Ukrainian Defense Forces Destroy S-400 Air Defense System in Gelendzhik

On August 8, Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroyed a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system in Gelendzhik, Krasnodar Krai.

The strike on the Russian air defense system was carried out during the day on August 8, 2026.

The information was reported by Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces.

Afterward, a thick column of smoke rose into the sky, which was filmed by local residents.

Additionally, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi reported that, besides the launcher, four more components of the system were destroyed overnight from August 8 to 9.

OSINT analysis by the Falcon Insight Map Telegram channel confirmed that the fire occurred on the grounds of Military Unit No. 2156 and the adjacent military training ground at the coordinates 44°34′18.67″N 37°59′21.41″E.

According to the Oryx community, Russian forces have lost at least 30 S-400 air defense system launchers. Of these, 29 were destroyed and one was damaged.

The losses included 5P85T2, 5P85SM2-01, and other launchers of the system whose exact types have not been specified.

As of today, the S-400 forms the backbone of Russia’s long-range air and missile defense. The system plays a key role in protecting strategically important areas, including Russia’s capital, Moscow.

However, despite its importance, the S-400 has proven vulnerable to Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian forces are actively targeting these systems and regularly damaging or destroying their components.

Militarnyi previously reported that on the same day, August 8, satellite imagery revealed the destruction of a Russian Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system in Gelendzhik, designed to disrupt Starlink satellite communications.

According to the satellite imagery, the system was struck on the grounds of Military Unit No. 2156 – the Novorossiysk Border Detachment (32nd Border Guard Detachment) of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service.