Ukraine Destroys Crimea Radio Telescope Used by Russian Military

Ukraine Destroys Crimea Radio Telescope Used by Russian Military

Ukrainian forces have destroyed one of Russia’s most iconic pieces of Cold War-era space infrastructure, a giant radio telescope in Crimea that Moscow had repurposed for military use.

The 230-foot (70-meter) RT-70 radio telescope, located near the city of Yevpatoria on the Black Sea, was struck by a Ukrainian drone in late August, according to Defense Express. Footage showed the drone hitting the 200-kilowatt radio receiver at the heart of the dish, a custom-built unit installed during a 2011 upgrade in Moscow. Analysts say the loss of this component will make it extremely difficult for Russia to repair the telescope in the near future.

Originally built in the 1970s as part of the Soviet Deep Space Network, the Yevpatoria telescope played a key role in the USSR’s planetary exploration missions. It supported the Venera program to Venus and was even used in attempts to communicate with potential extraterrestrial civilizations. After the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Russia took full control of the site, investing in upgrades to adapt the massive 5,000-metric-ton structure for modern military use.

Defense experts believe the telescope had been integrated into Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation system, an alternative to the U.S. GPS network. Its use reportedly boosted GLONASS accuracy by as much as 30 percent, giving Russian forces a valuable edge in precision targeting and guidance.

Ukraine’s strike marks a significant symbolic and practical blow. By disabling the telescope, Kyiv has 

not only eliminated a military asset but also destroyed a relic of Soviet space history that once represented Moscow’s technological ambitions.

The Yevpatoria dish was one of only three RT-70 telescopes ever built. With its destruction, Russia loses a rare piece of infrastructure that bridged its space exploration past and its present-day war effort.

Original Story HERE