This attack, according to the American military magazine Military Watch Magazine (MWM), reveals Kyiv's attempt to escalate missile strikes.
The Russian S-400 systems intercepted four ATACMS ballistic missiles launched by Ukrainian forces against Voronez, which constituted the first attack on internationally recognized Russian territory. This attack, according to the American military magazine Military Watch Magazine (MWM), reveals Kyiv's attempt to escalate missile strikes.
The Russian Aerospace Forces, with the aid of the long-range S-400 air defense systems, intercepted four ballistic rockets launched by Ukrainian forces against Voronez, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The missiles were launched using the American MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missile systems, and they were part of the first known attack with these systems against recognized Russian territory.
The escalation of ballistic attacks using these systems, which Washington had long resisted, has been interpreted by analysts as an attempt by Western countries to force Russia to cease hostilities on terms favorable to Western interests. The S-400s have already been used several times to intercept ATACMS attacks, while the missile systems provided by the US have also noted some success in destroying components of the S-400s.
Following the interception, the debris of the destroyed missiles reportedly caused damage to the roofs of the Center for Gerontology and an orphanage in Voronez, but there were no civilian casualties. 
The launchers used for the attack, according to reports, were later located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and destroyed.
In addition to intercepting ballistic missiles, the S-400 systems underwent extensive military testing against a wide range of targets, such as aircraft and cruise missiles. In August, it was confirmed that the systems are also being used to destroy MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles fired by the Ukrainian Air Force. Patriot missiles achieve speeds of approximately Mach 3.5, and according to some data—up to Mach 5, while S-400 missiles achieve speeds exceeding Mach 14, allowing them to safely strike such targets.
February 2022: The first test
The S-400s were first tested in real combat conditions in February 2022, in the early days of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, when the systems with their super-long ranges shot down aircraft deep within enemy territory.
Reports that surfaced in late 2023 indicated that the system is using the unique maximum-range 40N6 missiles to strike low-flying targets at distances up to 400 kilometers, a feat ensured through the use of guidance data from A-50U early warning aircraft.
The S-400s were first used outside the Ukrainian theatre of operations in May 2025, when sources from India attributed the destruction of five or six Pakistani fighter jets and a large refueling aircraft to air defense units. The strike distances confirmed the use of 40N6 missiles to hit targets deep inside Pakistani airspace, and the high assessment of the system's effectiveness led to the start of negotiations with the Indian Ministry of Defense for the purchase of additional battalions.
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών