Views: 19
The operation, conducted by the Ukrainian Navy in coordination with other defense units, targeted the S-300 complex, with reports of explosions at the designated strike points.
“During the night of August 21, units of the Ukrainian Navy, in collaboration with other components of the defense forces, struck the enemy’s S-300 air defense system near the settlement of Novoshakhtinsk in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated.
The involvement of the Ukrainian Navy in the strike has fueled speculation that the attack may have utilized a new version of the Neptune cruise missile. Originally developed by the Luch Design Bureau in 2018 as an anti-ship missile with a range of 280–300 kilometers, the updated Neptune missile is reportedly capable of striking ground targets as well.
The successful deployment of such a missile against a high-value target like the S-300 system would represent a significant advancement in Ukraine’s military capabilities, particularly in targeting Russian air defense infrastructure. The S-300 is one of Russia’s primary tools for defending against aerial threats.