Satellite Images Confirm Destruction of Radar in Rostov Region

Satellite images have confirmed the destruction of the Russian RLK-1 ‘Navigation of the South’ radar, which was attacked on September 4th in the Rostov region.

The Dnipro OSINT Telegram channel published the images.

They show that one of the domed antenna arrays of the system was destroyed as a result of the strike.

The system was located on the territory of a former air defense unit (military unit 65312) at coordinates 47.49014793591106, 42.41949947376739, and was part of the air traffic control system in southern Russia.

Its primary functions include the detection and tracking of aircraft, guidance and coordination of flight routes, radio-technical support of flights, aviation radio communications, and fixed satellite communication.

Recently, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have intensified attacks on Russian radar systems in an effort to degrade radar coverage in certain areas – primarily around the temporarily occupied Crimea.

For instance, on September 5th, 2025, Ukrainian intelligence drone operators struck Russian Podlyot and Nebo-M air defense radars in Crimea.

A strike drone hit the 55Zh6M Nebo-M radar while it was being relocated between positions, destroying the section carrying the folded antenna.

Disabling the 48Ya6-K1 Podlyot radar required two kamikaze drones: the first missed due to the complexity of control, but the second struck precisely at the phased antenna array of the system.

At the end of August 2025, the Special forces of the Department of Active Operations of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine struck a Russian radar system that is part of the S-400 surface-to-air missile system in Crimea. A drone hit the antenna array of the radar system, which is highly sensitive to damage. With high probability, the installation was rendered inoperative.

Disabling this radar station is part of an ongoing campaign to suppress air defenses in Crimea, overseen by the Prymary (Phantoms – Ed.) special unit.

Its operators use strike drones equipped with satellite communication systems, which has enabled them to hit targets at previously unreachable distances.