Ukrainian Drones Strike S-400 Launcher Near Putin's Black Sea Residence
Ukrainian drones have struck a Russian S-400 air-defence missile system stationed near a presidential residence on the Black Sea coast, according to a Ukrainian military commander. The attack marks the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory as the war enters its third year.
The launcher was located approximately 12 miles from the residence near Gelendzhik in southern Russia. The S-400 "Triumph" is designed to intercept aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. Major Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces, said the launcher was left "ablaze and sputtering for three hours" after the attack, as reported by The Telegraph. These claims could not be independently verified.
The S-400 was part of a broader security network around the presidential compound, which includes electronic warfare systems and mobile fire teams. The residence is surrounded by a 27-square-mile buffer zone and is under a permanent no-fly zone. Brovdi claimed the launcher had been used to fire missiles at Ukrainian cities, including six missiles launched on August 8.
The report noted that Russia has increasingly relied on systems such as the S-400 for strikes on Ukraine, potentially due to a shortage of Patriot interceptors, which are considered crucial for defending against ballistic missile attacks.
The targeted residence, often referred to as "Putin's Palace," is an extensive Italianate complex. An investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation, led by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, detailed the property in 2021. The investigation estimated its cost at as much as Rs 12,000 crore. Navalny died in a Siberian prison in 2024.
According to reports, the complex has included a casino, vineyard, spa, ice rink, theatre, and other recreational facilities. A chapel was reportedly added in 2023. Putin is believed to visit the residence only occasionally, with concerns over Ukrainian long-range drone strikes making the location increasingly risky. He reportedly prefers his heavily protected dacha on Lake Valdai, about 185 miles east of Moscow.
The latest strike followed another Ukrainian drone attack in the same region last week. Drone fragments reportedly fell onto a beach, killing seven people. Ukraine's military intelligence also said on Monday that its drones had destroyed two Russian S-400 launchers and struck an antenna used to control Orion medium-altitude drones in occupied Crimea. Kyiv estimated the damage from that operation could run into tens of millions of dollars.
The attacks are part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian military and energy infrastructure. Large-scale drone raids have become almost routine, with Russia increasingly struggling to protect its territory from long-range strikes. More than 450 Ukrainian drones reportedly entered Russian airspace overnight on Monday, striking an oil refinery in Tatarstan. At least 13 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest single attacks on Russian territory since the war began. Drone debris was also reported in Tyumen, Siberia.
Ukraine hopes its expanding drone campaign will raise the cost of the war and push the Kremlin towards negotiations. Moscow, however, has shown little willingness to accept Kyiv's current terms. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin rejected Ukraine's demand for a frontline freeze and ceasefire on Monday, saying, "No 'freeze' is possible without addressing the root causes of this crisis."
