Ukraine strikes air defenses near Putin Black Sea estate
Ukrainian drone forces targeted Russian air defense and electronic warfare assets near Gelendzhik, stripping protective cover from a high-security Black Sea estate linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Ukrainian officials and satellite analysis, the coordinated operation took place between August 7 and August 10.
Precision strikes disable key defenses
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, confirmed that Ukrainian drones launched six missiles against Russian air defense systems in the area.
The main assault was enabled by an earlier strike on August 7, which destroyed a Russian Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare unit. The system was actively jamming Starlink satellite communications over a 20-square-kilometer sector.
Shortly after blinding the electronic warfare coverage, Ukrainian forces hit an S-400 surface-to-air missile position located just 500 meters away.
Satellite imagery confirms damage
Independent Russian military analyst Ian Matveev reported that satellite imagery confirms the destruction of at least one S-400 launcher.
Matveev noted that the strikes significantly weakened air defense coverage over the Cape Idokopas peninsula, where the presidential compound stands. Russian authorities have not independently verified the damage.
The Black Sea compound
The 17,700-square-meter estate near Gelendzhik gained international attention following a landmark investigation by Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.
The palatial complex features a subterranean cinema, private restaurants, a swimming pool, and a helipad, surrounded by a heavily guarded no-fly zone controlled by Russian state security. Construction of the compound is estimated at over €1 billion.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
