"Every third sortie results in a hit": How the 412th Nemesis brigade destroys Russian air defence with mid-range drones | Ukrainska Pravda
AI Analysis
The Ukrainian 412th Nemesis Brigade is successfully employing mid-range drones (“middle-strikes”) to systematically degrade Russian air defense capabilities, achieving a hit rate of approximately one in three sorties. They have reportedly destroyed or damaged 83 Russian air defense systems, including Buk, Tor, and S-300 components, targeting systems at ranges up to 200km. This success is attributed to drone technology outpacing Russian countermeasures and forcing a redeployment of assets.
Key Takeaways
- The 412th Nemesis Brigade has destroyed/damaged 83 Russian air defense systems as of May 2, 2026.
- Ukrainian 'middle-strike' drones are effectively targeting Russian air defense systems at ranges of 50-200km.
- Russian air defense systems are struggling to counter Ukrainian drones due to limitations of Soviet-era radar technology and a production deficit.
- Successful drone strikes are forcing Russia to redeploy air defense assets to protect rear areas and critical infrastructure.
- Ukrainian forces initially employed a 'one-way' drone tactic, evolving into more sophisticated, reusable mid-range systems.
Why It Matters
The demonstrated effectiveness of Ukrainian drones against Russian air defenses represents a significant shift in modern warfare, highlighting the vulnerability of traditional air defense systems to asymmetric drone tactics. This capability allows Ukraine to suppress enemy air defenses, creating opportunities for deeper strikes and potentially altering the battlefield dynamics. The success also underscores the importance of investing in counter-drone technology and adapting air defense strategies.
"Every third sortie results in a hit": How the 412th Nemesis brigade destroys Russian air defence with mid-range drones | Ukrainska Pravda
Over the past year, Ukrainian drones have become a real nightmare for Russian air defence. The military conducts reconnaissance and destroys targets up to 200 kilometres away, controlling the drone and watching the explosions in real time.
This has been made possible by mid-range drones, commonly referred to by Ukrainian weapons engineers and soldiers as "middle-strikes". They are capable of destroying important Russian facilities and equipment at distances considered to be deep rear areas.
Many units are now mastering the use of this type of UAV, while arms manufacturers are constantly improving their products. As a result, even rear areas will become dangerous for the Russians, potentially disrupting logistics, slowing down offensives and thinning out surface-to-air missile systems, opening the way to the enemy's oil infrastructure.
Advertisement:
Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412th Nemesis Brigade, told Ukrainska Pravda how these drones are developing and why they may soon change the rules of the game on the battlefield.
Pavlo Laktionov
Photo: Oboronka/Anna Shtopenko
When did you start using mid-range drones?
We began doing this in our unit even before it had a name. We would simply take a heavy bomber and send it one way when we knew for sure there was an important target there. No return. That was our "middle-strike".
We have had a confirmed hit on a Buk air defence system at a distance of 50-57 kilometres. At the time, these were unattainable distances. It was one of the first such cases, and we then began developing this approach further.
One of the key targets for mid-range drones is air defence. How many Russian surface-to-air missile systems have you already destroyed or struck?
The brigade had hit and destroyed 83 enemy air defence systems, including various types of surface-to-air missile systems – from Tor and Buk systems to S-300 radar stations – as well as different elements of these systems, such as launchers, command vehicles, transporter-loaders and so on, as of 2 May 2026.
Why can't Russian air defence protect itself from drones?
Based on the number of air defence systems destroyed since the beginning of the invasion and the approximate pace of production, Ukraine's Defence Forces are destroying far more than the Russians can produce. As a result, their air defence is becoming less dense and less effective.
They are also forced to pull some of their systems back to protect decision-making centres, defence facilities, oil depots deep inside Russia, and so on. So there are even fewer systems left at the front.
Another factor is that Soviet-designed radars are not very well suited to shooting down small aircraft with composite airframes.
In reality, Russian surface-to-air missile systems do shoot down our drones quite often, using up missiles in the process, but we a