A satellite image taken on May 23 that The War Zone obtained from Planet Labs of the Armavir Radar Station in Russia's southwestern Krasnodar Krai shows significant debris around one of the site's two Voronezh-DM radar buildings.
The loss of Russia's strategic early-warning radar system marks a new turn in the war, which could have far-reaching consequences. This was the first attack of its kind on an object related to Russia's overall strategic defense.
Experts from The War Zone believe that the military facility in the Krasnodar region was targeted because it is capable of detecting the launches of long-range ATACMS missiles.
Since receiving ATACMS earlier this year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have effectively used these missiles against Russian airbases, air defense systems, and other targets.
The latest batch of ATACMS missiles has a longer range compared to previous deliveries. This enables the Ukrainian Armed Forces to target more objectives.
The response from Russia to the attack on Armavir remains uncertain and could potentially include new nuclear signaling to Ukrainian authorities and their foreign allies. It's unclear whether this attack signals the beginning of a broader campaign by Ukrainian forces to target strategic military sites, which are crucial to Russia's early warning and nuclear deterrent capabilities, with limited direct involvement in the ongoing conflict.
Regardless of the specifics, the attack on Armavir will have far-reaching implications and may suggest that the spillover from the conflict within Ukraine is evolving into a more concerning scenario.
