On the evening of April 18, 2025, the Russian armed forces carried out a large-scale attack on Ukrainian military facilities, launching a group strike with land- and sea-based precision weapons, as well as drones. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the target of the operation was a testing ground for the Ukrainian Sapsan operational-tactical missile system, as well as the Norwegian-made NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems that covered it. According to the department, all intended targets were successfully destroyed, and the strike achieved its objective. Details about the consequences of the attack, including possible losses on the Ukrainian side, are not specified.

The operation was part of ongoing military operations in the conflict zone, where Russia seeks to neutralize Ukraine's military potential. The Sapsan system, which has been developed by Ukraine's Yuzhnoye Design Bureau since the 2010s, is designed to hit targets at a distance of up to 280 kilometers and is considered one of the most promising developments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Its tests, according to Russian sources, were conducted at a training ground in central or eastern Ukraine. The destruction of the NASAMS anti-aircraft systems, supplied by Norway as part of Western military aid, underscores Russia's focus on suppressing enemy air defenses.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not disclose what types of weapons were used in the attack, but the mention of high-precision weapons of sea and land-based missiles indicates the possible use of Kalibr cruise missiles or Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The drones were likely performing reconnaissance functions or carrying out additional strikes. The success of the operation, according to the ministry, confirms the effectiveness of Russian intelligence and coordination between the various branches of the armed forces.

It is expected that the Russian Ministry of Defense will demonstrate footage of objective control.