On 19 September and during the night of 19–20 September, the Ukrainian Defence Forces struck five Russian military targets in the temporarily occupied territories. The General Staff reported the destruction of a «Buk-M3» air defence system in Zaporizhzhia, a «Nebo-U» radar station in Donetsk Oblast, a drone production facility near Sieversk, as well as a command post and a UAV control centre.
Briefly about the main points
- «A »Buk-M3’ was hit near Ukrainka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
- The «Nebo-U» radar station was targeted in the Balka area of Donetsk Oblast.
- A drone manufacturing facility near Sievierodonetsk was attacked.
- Command posts were struck in Zoryane and near Staromykhailivka.
- The SBS announced that there were 300 confirmed targets for «POPADU-2026».
«The »Buk-M3« near Ukrainka became the 300th target of »POPAd’
A «Buk-M3» anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed in the area of the temporarily occupied town of Ukrainka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The day before, the Unmanned Systems Forces reported that this system had been destroyed by operators from the 412th Nemesis Brigade and that it had become the 300th confirmed target of Operation «PPOpad-2026».
«The »Buk-M3’ is a Russian medium-range air defence system designed to engage aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and other aerial targets. According to information from Ukrainian military sources, it can engage targets at a range of up to approximately 70 kilometres and at an altitude of up to 35 kilometres.
The «Nebo-U» radar station in the Balka area ensured early detection
In the Donetsk region, near the village of Balka, the Defence Forces struck a Russian radar station «Sky-U». Such stations are used for long-term airspace surveillance and the early detection of airborne targets, in particular cruise and ballistic missiles.
According to ArmyInform, the high-altitude «Nebo-U» fighter is capable of detecting targets at a range of approximately 400 kilometres, although the range depends on the altitude and size of the target. Taking out the station could locally weaken the Russian forces’ ability to provide early warning of air attacks.
UAV production facilities and command and control infrastructure were also attacked
In the Sieverskodonetsk area, the General Staff reported that a drone manufacturing facility had been hit. The agency did not provide details on the types of drones or the extent of the damage to the facility.
Specific targets included a Russian military command and observation post in the Zoryane area and a drone control centre near Staromykhailivka. The combination of strikes against air defence systems, radar installations, and UAV production and control facilities may indicate an attempt to target several links in the Russian combat system simultaneously.
The Security Service of Ukraine reported that 300 air defence systems, radar stations and electronic warfare systems had been destroyed
According to the Unmanned Systems Force, over the course of 261 days in 2026, within the scope of «PPOpad», the destruction of 300 Russian air defence, radar and electronic warfare systems was confirmed. This figure includes 162 anti-aircraft systems, 124 radar systems and 14 electronic warfare systems.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also stated that between 10 and 18 September it had struck 26 Russian air defence systems, and 37 such targets during the first 18 days of the month. These figures reflect the strikes claimed by the Ukrainian side, rather than the extent of damage sustained by each system.
