American defense publication Military Watch Magazine has published new details about what it described as one of the most successful episodes involving Russia’s air defense forces during the conflict in Ukraine.

According to the magazine, the events took place in 2023, when Russian S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems shot down 24 Ukrainian aircraft within a single week. The report says the operation relied on a previously undisclosed combat tactic.

The publication notes that the episode occurred after Ukraine significantly increased the activity of its fighter aviation following the delivery of large numbers of MiG-29 aircraft from NATO member states.

Military Watch argues that a key factor behind the S-400’s effectiveness was its ability to engage targets beyond the radar horizon. According to the report, Russian air defense units received targeting information not only from their own radar systems but also from external sources.

The magazine states that airborne early warning and control aircraft, including the A-50U, were used to provide target data, allowing S-400 systems to engage aircraft outside the detection range of their own radars.

According to Military Watch, the combination of the S-400’s long-range capabilities with external targeting support played a decisive role in inflicting significant losses on Ukrainian aviation during that period.