Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian Zaslon Naval Radar System in Drone Strike

Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed a rare Russian Zaslon mobile naval radar system in a targeted drone strike, marking the first confirmed loss of this advanced electronic warfare asset since the start of the conflict. The attack, carried out by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and Raid 413 Battalion, was captured on video and shows the radar system being hit in an open field location¹. Ukrainian military officials noted the significance of the strike, stating:

“And, it seems, it has never been hit during the entire war”

regarding the previously untouched radar system².

Technical Impact of the Zaslon Destruction

The destruction of the Zaslon radar represents a significant degradation of Russian naval capabilities in the Black Sea region. The mobile system, valued at approximately $50 million, was capable of tracking up to 200 targets simultaneously with a range of 300 kilometers, including stealth aircraft detection within 75 kilometers³. Only about a dozen Russian warships were equipped with this advanced system, making each loss operationally significant. The strike follows a pattern of successful Ukrainian asymmetric warfare against high-value Russian electronic warfare assets, including previous attacks on Tirada-2 systems and Black Sea Fleet installations¹.

Visual evidence of the strike was published by the Raid 413 Battalion, showing the moment of impact and subsequent destruction of the radar unit. The footage confirms the system was deployed in a field configuration rather than its typical shipboard installation, suggesting either a land-based adaptation or temporary deployment⁴. Technical analysis of the video indicates the use of Ukrainian-developed Sea Baby drones for the attack, which have demonstrated increasing effectiveness against Russian electronic warfare systems⁵.

Strategic Context and Broader Conflict Developments

This strike occurred amid escalating Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian military infrastructure. In the 48 hours surrounding the Zaslon attack, Ukrainian forces conducted strikes on a drone control center in Russia’s Kursk region and launched consecutive nighttime attacks on Moscow ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations⁶. The coordinated timing suggests a strategic effort to degrade Russian command and control capabilities while demonstrating Ukraine’s ability to strike deep behind enemy lines.

The destruction of the Zaslon system has broader implications for naval operations in the Black Sea. Latvian intelligence officials have warned that Russian provocations in the region are increasing the risk of accidental military incidents⁷. The loss of advanced radar coverage compounds these risks by reducing situational awareness for Russian naval forces operating in contested waters.

Technical Relevance for Security Professionals

The successful targeting of the Zaslon system demonstrates several operationally relevant tactics for electronic warfare countermeasures. The attack profile suggests Ukrainian forces developed specific drone payloads and flight patterns to evade the radar’s detection capabilities. This mirrors techniques used in penetration testing against radar systems, where understanding system limitations and operational patterns enables effective evasion¹.

For defensive security teams, the incident highlights the vulnerability of even advanced electronic warfare systems to determined asymmetric attacks. The mobile nature of the Zaslon system, while providing operational flexibility, also created vulnerabilities when deployed outside its standard shipboard configuration. This parallels security challenges in enterprise environments where mobile or temporary deployments often lack the hardened protections of fixed installations.

Conclusion

The destruction of the Russian Zaslon radar represents both a tactical victory for Ukrainian forces and a case study in modern electronic warfare. The successful strike demonstrates how relatively inexpensive drone systems can neutralize high-value military assets when combined with precise intelligence and operational planning. As the conflict continues, such asymmetric attacks will likely play an increasingly important role in shaping the battlefield.

References

1. [1] “Ukraine destroys Russian naval radar: Video,” Newsweek, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-destroys-russian-naval-radar-video-2068413
2. [2] “Ukrainian drones destroy Russian Zaslon naval radar on wheels in first-ever strike: Video,” UNITED24 Media, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukrainian-drones-destroy-russian-zaslon-naval-radar-on-wheels-in-first-ever-strike-video-8139
3. [3] “SBU video shows Sea Baby drones hitting targets in Crimea,” Kyiv Independent, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-video-sea-baby-drones-crimea
4. [4] “Drone footage of Zaslon strike,” Raid 413 Battalion, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.facebook.com/raid.413/videos/2045807709563373
5. [5] “Zaslon concept art,” UNITED24 Media, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://storage.united24media.com/thumbs/x/f/9d/1feb18ef4fdffe8b75b797cf08faa9df.png
6. [6] “Drones target Moscow for second night in a row, Russian official claims,” Kyiv Independent, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://kyivindependent.com/drones-target-moscow-second-night-in-a-row-russian-official-claims/
7. [7] “Russian Black Sea provocations increasing threat of accidental military incidents, Latvian intelligence says,” Kyiv Independent, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://kyivindependent.com/russian-black-sea-provocations-increasing-threat-of-accidental-military-incidents-latvian-intelligence-says/