Ukrainian Forces Strike Over 20 Russian Air Defense Targets in Early March
During the first half of March 2026, Ukrainian defenders carried out a series of successful attacks, disabling key elements of Russian air defense and electronic warfare systems.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, from 1 to 15 March more than 20 strategic targets were hit, significantly undermining the enemy’s ability to protect rear bases.
The strikes targeted some of Russia’s most advanced weaponry, including Pantsir-S1, Tor-M1, and mobile Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile systems.
Particularly impactful were the losses of S-300V and S-400 “Triumph” launchers in Crimea and occupied parts of Luhansk, which form the backbone of Russian anti-missile defenses.
“Destroying or damaging these air defense systems reduces the enemy’s ability to intercept missiles, making their rear bases less secure,” the defense ministry’s press service emphasized.
In addition to the launchers themselves, Ukrainian forces systematically destroyed the “eyes” of these systems—radar stations, without which missile guidance becomes impossible.
The strikes covered both temporarily occupied territories in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions, as well as deep into enemy territory, including Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. In Crimea, Podlyot-K1 and Kasta 2E2 radar stations, which specialize in detecting low-observable targets at extremely low altitudes, were destroyed.
It should be recalled that a UAV strike on an oil depot in Kuban destroyed most of the fuel tanks. Additionally, a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline was destroyed in Tambov region.
