Ukraine carried out a drone attack on the western Russian region of Belgorod overnight and hit an S-400 air defense complex and its radar, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told Reuters on Wednesday.
Russia’s defense ministry said earlier on Wednesday that it had downed 31 drones launched by Kyiv overnight over the regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk, but reported no casualties or damage. The two accounts could not be independently verified.
The SBU source pointed to videos posted online by Russian nationals showing what he said were 20 explosions at the location of the air defense system and its radar near the city of Belgorod.
Ukraine has tried to step up its attacks on Russian air defenses in recent months. The source said it was the second time the SBU had struck a “Triumf” air defense system since Sept. 14. The last one, also not confirmed by Russia, was located on the western part of the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula.
Kyiv does not typically claim responsibility for attacks carried out on targets inside Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday Ukraine will do everything to win its war against Russia, and is aiming to get through the winter without losing initiative on the battlefield.
“There is fatigue but we will do everything to win against our enemy, and our counter-offensive goes ahead, even if slowly we do everything to repel the enemy,” he told Italian broadcaster SkyTg24 speaking through a translator into Italian.
He said Ukraine felt support from the United States in “these very difficult times” and was convinced this would be the case in the future.
