Russia has declared its first regiment equipped with the advanced S-500 Prometheus missile system combat-ready, signaling a major boost to its upper-tier air and missile defense capabilities. Announced by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Leousov on December 7, the deployment strengthens Moscow’s strategic defenses and showcases its commitment to modernizing its military amid rising global tensions. The S-500, capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats in near space, positions Russia at the forefront of next-generation missile defense technology.