Feb 14, 2026
Ukraine’s Security Service reported that its Alpha special operations unit destroyed approximately half of Russia’s Pantsir air defense systems in 2025 through a series of long-range strikes.
According to Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on February 14, fighters from the SBU’s Center for Special Operations “A” carried out sustained operations that significantly reduced the number of Russian Pantsir surface-to-air missile and gun systems over the past year.
The Security Service of Ukraine stated that the campaign was aimed at weakening Russia’s air defense network.
According to the SBU, the Pantsir is “one of the modern and key systems of Russia’s air defense.” The agency stated that the cost of a single Pantsir system ranges from $15 million to $20 million. SBU noted that these systems are considered among the most effective tools used by Russia to counter Ukrainian long-range drones.
In a statement, the SBU said: “That is why the systematic destruction of Pantsir systems has a strategic objective—to break through the enemy’s air defense and create corridors for striking targets deep in its rear. This enables the Defense Forces of Ukraine to effectively target military bases, warehouses, airfields, and other occupier facilities.”
According to the SBU, the systematic targeting of Pantsir systems is intended to reduce the effectiveness of Russian air defenses and facilitate strikes against military infrastructure deep behind the front line.
The SBU also stated that the total value of Russian air defense systems destroyed by the Alpha unit in 2025 is estimated at approximately $4 billion.
Earlier, Russian companies posted record losses of 7.5 trillion rubles (about $78 billion) in the first 11 months of 2025, according to The Moscow Times. The share of unprofitable firms rose to 28.8% amid slowing economic growth, inflation, and ongoing sanctions, with the hardest hit sectors including oil refining, metallurgy, and mineral extraction.