Ukraine’s defense forces have carried out a series of strikes against Russian military infrastructure and key weapons systems, putting significant pressure on Moscow’s military capabilities, according to Ukrainian officials and defense-related sources.
Ukrainian military sources say July was particularly damaging for Russia’s Nebo family of strategic radar stations, which play an important role in airspace surveillance and the detection of aircraft and missiles.
According to Ukrainian claims, at least nine Nebo-U, Nebo-SV and Nebo-SVU radar systems were destroyed during July. Ukrainian sources have estimated the value of each system at at least $100 million, potentially putting the total value of the reported losses at around $900 million.
The figures have not been independently verified, and Russia has not acknowledged all of the reported losses.
The alleged destruction of the Nebo systems follows earlier Ukrainian attacks on Russian air-defense assets. Ukrainian military analysts have previously claimed that Tor air-defense systems were among the main targets in April and May, while Pantsir systems came under increased attack in June. In July, the Nebo radar family reportedly became the focus of Ukrainian strikes.
In modern warfare, strategic radar systems are critical not only for monitoring airspace but also for detecting aircraft and long-range missiles and providing information to broader air-defense networks. The loss of several high-value radar stations could therefore affect Russia’s ability to detect and track incoming threats and coordinate its air-defense assets.
At the same time, Ukrainian strikes have reportedly targeted Russian military assets in and around the Black Sea and Crimea.
In late July, Ukrainian defense forces claimed to have struck a Project 1100M Sargan-class patrol boat in Kerch, in Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014. According to Ukrainian sources, the vessel had been used for patrol and security operations around the waters near the Crimean Bridge.
The history of the Sargan project is closely linked to the broader military and political consequences of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
The patrol boat design was originally developed by Ukrainian shipbuilders to meet the requirements of the country’s security and law-enforcement agencies. Some of the initial orders were reportedly connected to security arrangements for Ukraine’s presidential administration.
Following Russia’s seizure of Crimea in 2014, the More shipyard in Feodosia came under Russian control. Ukrainian sources allege that Russia obtained design and technical documentation stored at the facility and later used the material to produce several vessels under the Project 1100M designation.
The vessels were subsequently used by Russian security and maritime agencies, including the Russian National Guard and the Federal Security Service’s coast guard units, according to Ukrainian accounts.
Ukrainian sources have estimated the value of a Sargan patrol boat at roughly $6 million. The reported strike therefore represents not only the destruction of a military asset but also highlights the long-term consequences of Crimea’s occupation and the transfer of Ukrainian military-industrial capabilities under Russian control.
However, battlefield losses remain difficult to independently verify. Ukrainian authorities regularly publish information about Russian military equipment destroyed in strikes, while Moscow does not acknowledge all such claims. Independent observers also face significant difficulties in immediately confirming individual incidents, particularly in occupied territories.
Nevertheless, the reported pattern of attacks against radar stations, air-defense systems and patrol vessels suggests that Ukraine is increasingly targeting military infrastructure that may not be directly visible on the front line but remains essential to Russia’s broader war-fighting capability.
The destruction of a high-value strategic radar involves more than the loss of a single piece of equipment. It can create additional pressure related to replacement, production, logistics, maintenance and the reconstruction of integrated air-defense networks.
For this reason, Ukrainian officials have described July as a particularly damaging month for Russia’s Nebo radar family.
The Ukrainian assessment does not provide a complete picture of Russia’s overall military capabilities, but it highlights a broader shift in Ukraine’s targeting strategy. Kyiv is increasingly seeking to strike not only Russian troops and frontline weapons, but also the surveillance systems, detection equipment and security infrastructure that underpin Moscow’s wider military network.
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, such attacks could become increasingly significant. Both sides are attempting to identify vulnerabilities deep within their opponent’s military networks and exploit them through long-range weapons, unmanned aerial systems and other precision-strike capabilities.
— Ivan Stupak, Kyiv
Ukraine attack puts pressure on Russian military network, NEO radar most affected in July
