Today the biggest news comes from the Russian Federation. 

Here, Ukrainian forces are systematically striking Russian air defense systems across hundreds of kilometers. 

After months of preparation, Kyiv’s strategy is now fully visible: destroy radars, launchers and control modules until the skies are open and air superiority is established.

Precision strikes from Donetsk to Crimea

A few recent operations reveal the scale and precision of Ukraine’s effort, as near the town of Bukhoyavlenka in the Donetsk region, a Russian Buk-M1 launcher was hunted in real time. 

A reconnaissance drone tracked it to a building before a bomber drone began tearing the roof apart, finally dropping an explosive directly onto the system and causing a massive ammunition explosion. 

In Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian forces destroyed a rare control module of a Barnaul-T air defense control system, a central node that links radar with launchers and can coordinate multiple launches at the same time.

In Rostov, one of Russia’s Neboyu long-range radars was struck overnight, with fires confirmed by NASA FIRM satellites. 

Further north, another radar site of a Sobkatu system in Voronezh was hit, reportedly destroying its antenna. 

And in Crimea, Ukraine neutralized Podlet and Nebo-M radars, a sign that even protected sites deep within the peninsula are vulnerable.

Fragmenting Russia’s defense network

These attacks span thousands of kilometers, but share a clear operational goal of systematically dismantling the infrastructure that keeps the air defense network functional. 

By knocking out early warning radars and central coordination modules, Ukrainian forces create time gaps in detection and response while effectively blinding connected missiles. 

By destroying intercept launchers with their own radar and control module built in, such as the Pantsir or Buk systems, they undermine Russia’s ability to patch holes in their layered defenses. 

By finally targeting systems, like Barnolty, which coordinate radar data, firing orders, and even external assets, they sever the entire command structure and ability of the Russian network to work together. 

The more fragmented Russia’s air defense grid becomes, the more exposed its rear area is to follow-up strikes from Ukrainian bombers, drones, or cruise missiles.

Multi-domain arsenal of weapons

Near Orlivka in Donetsk, Ukrainian reconnaissance drones adjusted fire onto Russian OSA and Strela-10 launchers, with artillery finishing the job, a typical frontline engagement against short-range systems. 

Heavier bomber drones are used for structural targets or soft-skinned vehicles, as in the Bohoyavlenka and Oleksievka strikes, where they ignited stored ammunition and set several launchers ablaze. 

Shark UAVs frequently assist in locating and guiding these strikes to their targets. For deeper targets, fixed-wing kamikaze drones are launched to strike radar installations in Rostov, Voronezh or Crimea. 

And in rare cases, Ukraine has used their fighter jets for complicated set-and-dead missions to suppress or destroy enemy air defenses. 

Geolocated footage already shows one of such missions, with the MiG-29 fighter jet launching radar-seeking missiles to target and strike Russian Tor and Buk systems in Zaporizhzhia. 

The range and variety of these tools show that Ukraine is no longer just improving, it is executing a coordinated multi-domain campaign to disable Russian air defenses.

Expanding 300-kilometer kill zone

The campaign continues daily and has now widened in scope, as in Zaporizhzhia, multiple S-300B systems have been destroyed in separate strikes north of Oleksiivka, with kamikaze drones eliminating another Buk-M3 nearby. 

In Western Crimea, Ukrainian drones targeted relay sites near known air defense positions, with fire markers visible even on satellite imagery. 

In Luhansk, partisans blew up a Russian mobile air defense group guarding a repair base, reportedly linked to earlier atrocities in Bucha. 

North of the border in the Kursk region, a Russian surface-to-air missile site was destroyed near the village of Rozhava, making it the northmost confirmed strike of the campaign. 

From Krasnodar Krai to Kursk, Ukrainians are striking Russian air defenses and creating a kill zone up to 300 kilometers deep into Russian-controlled territories.

System demolition over fighter dominance

Overall, Ukraine is not just blinding Russian air defenses, it is taking apart the system that makes them effective. 

Russia air defense systems are not infinite, each destroyed S-300 or Buk system costs millions to replace, requires specialized parts and strains an already overburdened military industry to meet wartime needs. 

This is not air superiority in the classic sense of fighter dominance, but a complete demolition of radar, control and interceptor assets to give Ukrainian air power freedom of movement across the front line and deep into occupied territory, as the Ukrainian air strike offensive only seems to intensify.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.