Why Ukraine Damaged Voronezh-DM Radar in Armavir?

May 23, 2024October 21, 2025

Ukrainian drones managed to damage a station located near Armavir in russia’s Krasnodar region that’s part of the russian early warning system for missile attacks. The damaged Voronezh-DM radar was capable of providing partial sky coverage over temporarily occupied Crimea. Its primary area of responsibility was the Balkans and Mediterranean — NATO operational zones — as well as the Persian Gulf.

Open-source photos reveal the damage

Recent images show the radar as a massive stationary structure with an enormous phased array, segmented for active detection. This is highly sensitive equipment; any misalignment or internal damage can render it partially useless. Judging by the images, the strikes didn’t just dent the outer shell — internal components were also hit.

This attack shows that Ukrainian operators aimed with precision and struck exactly where they intended — probably even from the perfect angles. And note this: the target stood roughly 500 kilometres from the nearest frontline position. Hitting something that far away with such accuracy required meticulous preparation, flawless coordination, and a solid reason to spend valuable ammunition. Nobody launches a long-range strike like that without a clear and meaningful objective.

The Strategic Value of the Armavir Radar

Now let’s look at what the Orcs¹ write about this station and we discover it’s designed for roughly the same thing as the previously attacked “Container” radar, just in a different wavelength range. The enemy indicates target detection range of 6,000+ km horizontally and 8,000+ km vertically or in space.

Open sources don’t provide exact measurements, but logic suggests they exist. Such a long detection range gives an equally considerable “dead zone.” Ukrainian forces have methodically targeted these critical nodes to carve safe corridors for NATO missiles, and the Voronezh-DM was no exception.

Again, the conclusion suggests itself that the Armed Forces methodically cut out enemy infrastructure and clear routes for missiles that NATO countries have in their arsenal. We’re poking out the Russian bear’s eyes, and the bear understands it’s becoming increasingly vulnerable to NATO missiles.

Strategic logic behind the strike

Damaging a radar so far from the front might seem audacious, but it fits into a broader operational logic. By eliminating this surveillance node, Ukraine reduces the Swamps’² ability to monitor allied missile launches. The strike also serves as a warning: the bear can’t hide behind long-range radars anymore. Its perception of invulnerability is being methodically shredded, forcing resource reallocation and operational stress.

In that case, it’ll be possible to pay a visit to their design bureaus where they develop such hardware. And also to plants and factories — where all this is produced. That’s when the effect will be maximum.

The damaged Voronezh-DM radar near Armavir represents demonstrates Ukraine’s capability to systematically degrade russia’s strategic early warning systems. Each such operation weakens the enemy’s ability to detect incoming threats and creates opportunities for allied forces. However, to maximize this effect, Ukraine needs unrestricted access to long-range weapons.

¹Orcs – a common term for Russians who support or participate in the armed aggression against Ukraine.

²Swamps – ironic name for Russia, emphasizing decay, stagnation, and filth.