Defence Intelligence Equipped with S-200 System for Strikes on Russia – Launch Video

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine is using long-range anti-aircraft missiles from the S-200 SAM system to strike Russian invaders.

The press service of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine released a video of the equipment on Tuesday, May 13.

In the exclusive footage, which is published for the first time, the preparation of the missiles for launch is shown: loading onto the launch system and fueling with liquid rocket fuel. Then, the actual missile launches are captured.

The S-200 surface-to-air missile system is primarily designed for shooting down airborne targets at long distances.

Meanwhile, according to this official video and statements from the Russians, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have adapted these systems for strikes on ground targets.

As of 2024, footage of the use of the S-200 system with the 5V28 missile has been released online.

These systems, which were part of Ukraine’s air defense after the collapse of the USSR, were recognized as outdated by the Ministry of Defense in 2013, and a decision was made to retire them from active service with plans for their disposal.

Despite official assessments, this decision is considered biased, as it was made by Pavlo Lebedev, the then Minister of Defense, who was later accused of treason.

Earlier, it was suggested that Poland could have been a potential donor of the systems. During last year’s Defence24 Days conference, a representative from the country’s Armed Forces Command stated that the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade no longer has these systems in service. However, it cannot be ruled out that the decommissioned Ukrainian systems could be restored.

Statements about the attacks

The Russians have repeatedly claimed that Ukraine is striking them with refurbished S-200 anti-aircraft missiles. In the version for strikes on ground targets, the 5B28 anti-aircraft missiles, which are 10.8 meters long and weigh 7.1 tons with a fragmentation warhead weighing 220 kg, essentially perform the functions of ballistic missiles.

In particular, such reports were made in the summer of 2023. For example, on August 19, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced a nighttime attack with such a missile in 2023 on the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea. However, the Ukrainian military did not comment on this information.

The range of these missiles can exceed 300 km.