During January, the “Ghosts” special unit, attached to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, carried out a series of operations aimed at neutralizing the enemy’s air defense and radar-based surveillance systems along the entire front line.
According to information published by the ministry on social media, the operations were conducted under low temperatures and focused on reducing the adversary’s air detection and response capabilities, creating operational gaps in the integrated defense system.
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Hit air defense systems
Among the confirmed targets was the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, designed for short-range defense of military and strategic facilities against aircraft, drones and cruise robots. The system combines missiles and automatic cannons and provides close protection against airborne threats.
Next, Ukrainian operators struck the Tor-M1 system, the main task of which is to protect sensitive targets against attacks by cruise robots, unmanned aerial vehicles and low-flying aircraft.
The operations also included the more modern version Tor-M2, which was put out of action together with a transport and reloading vehicle (TZM). The destruction of this support vehicle impairs the ability to quickly reload the launcher and significantly reduces the readiness of the system in prolonged combat.
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Attacks against surveillance radars
In addition to the air defense systems, scouts from the “Spökena” unit knocked out the RLM-ME vehicle, a component of the Nebo-M radar complex, which is responsible for detecting low-altitude targets and strengthening situational awareness in the airspace.
Additional equipment hit was the three-dimensional radar station Opponent-GE, which is used to detect and track air targets and provides target data both to anti-aircraft missile units and the fighter aircraft.
Capacities of the neutralized systems
Pantsir-S1 is equipped with a radar that can detect targets at distances up to 36 km. Its missiles can engage threats at up to 20km range and 15km altitude, while two twin 30mm cannons ensure close-in defense within a radius of up to 4km.
The Tor-M1 uses its own radar with a detection range of up to 27 km. Its 9M331 missiles operate within a combat zone between 1.5 and 12 km and cover altitudes from 10 meters to 6 km.
Tor-M2 integrates an improved radar capable of detecting targets — including those with stealth capabilities — at distances up to 32 km. With the use of 9M338 missiles, the combat range has been increased to about 15–16 km, with a maximum altitude of up to 10 km, as well as the ability to simultaneously engage up to four targets.
In long-range surveillance, the RLM-ME radar operates in the metric band and can detect aircraft and missiles at distances up to 600 km when high-altitude targets are observed. Opponent-GE operates in the decimeter band and reaches up to 400 km in range and 200 km in altitude, with the ability to simultaneously track up to 150 aerial objects.
The “Ghosts” unit’s efforts indicate a concentrated effort to degrade the enemy’s integrated air defense and radar network, reducing its ability to detect, track and combat targets in contested airspace.
@militaryanalyse Series of Ukrainian attacks compromise radars and air defense missiles on the front line Throughout January, the special unit known as the “Ghosts,” affiliated with the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, carried out a series of operations aimed at neutralizing enemy air defense and radar surveillance systems along the entire front line. Telegram @DIUkraine
Source and images: Telegram @DIUkraine | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
