Destruction of Russia’s newest Valdai radars near Moscow: Forbes evaluates the special operation

It is emphasized that the indicated complexes were clearly worth the risk.

It is likely that the newest Russian Valdai radar systems near Moscow were destroyed by a Ukrainian agent who snuck up on the systems and planted explosives under them. This assumption was made in Forbes magazine, which pointed to the existence of a video of the corresponding explosion.

“If so, it would have been a risky operation in a densely populated region nearly 500 kilometers from the front lines in Ukraine. But it would not have been unprecedented. Ukrainian agents have repeatedly infiltrated Russian territory to hit military aircraft, warships and other high-value targets,” the article notes.

It is emphasized that the Valdai complexes were clearly worth the risk:

“The brand new system, apparently quite rare in Russian service, combined passive radio detectors, infrared sensors, radar and jammers to detect and jam hard-to-detect small drones.”

The magazine recalled that the Lianozovsky Electromechanical Plant in Moscow began developing the Valdai in 2016. The first example entered service just four years ago.

“Why the Ukrainians chose Valdai in Dolgoprudny is obvious. Ukrainian forces are expanding their campaign of deep strikes against Russian air bases, factories and oil facilities. Raids on the Russian oil industry last month may have disrupted up to 10% of the country’s oil production. Ukraine is launching cruise missiles at some of the toughest targets, but most of the deep strikes are being carried out by Ukraine’s ever-expanding portfolio of long-range drones, the heaviest of which can fly more than 1,500 kilometers with precision guidance and explosives,” Forbes added.

Let us recall that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that on the night of February 7, a powerful explosion occurred on the territory of military unit 52116 in the city of Dolgoprudny near Moscow : explosives destroyed two Russian Valdai radar systems, designed for round-the-clock automatic detection and counteraction of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Destruction of complexes

“The military unit where the Valdai missiles exploded is responsible for the safety of the airspace over Moscow,” the Main Intelligence Directorate emphasized.

(C)UNIAN 2025