The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is using long-range anti-aircraft missiles of the S-200 complex to strike at Russian occupiers. Militarnyi writes about this with reference to a video shown in the GUR.
Exclusive footage released for the first time shows the preparation of missiles for use: their loading onto the launcher and filling with liquid fuel, as well as the launches themselves.
The S-200 anti-aircraft missile system is designed primarily to engage air targets at long distances.
However, judging by the video and enemy statements, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have adapted these systems for strikes against ground targets.
Launch of the S-200 missile complex
GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
As of last year, footage of the use of the S-200 launcher with the 5B28 missile was published online.
Such systems were in service with the Ukrainian air defense after the collapse of the USSR. However, in 2013, the Ministry of Defense recognized the complexes as obsolete and decided to decommission them and dispose of them.
Earlier, there were suggestions that Poland could be a possible donor of the complexes. During the Defence24 Days conference in 2024, a representative of the Armed Forces Command of this country reported that the 3rd Warsaw Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade no longer has such systems in its arsenal. At the same time, it is not excluded that Ukrainian systems that were previously decommissioned were restored.
As is known, Russia has repeatedly stated that Ukraine is striking its territory with converted S-200 anti-aircraft missiles. In a modified version for hitting ground targets, the 5B28 missiles, 10.8 meters long and weighing 7.1 tons, with a fragmentation warhead weighing 220 kg, actually perform the role of ballistic missiles.
Similar statements appeared in the summer of 2023. On August 19, the Russian Defense Ministry reported a night strike with such a missile on temporarily occupied Crimea. But there was no confirmation or comment from the Ukrainian military.
Missiles of this type are capable of hitting targets at a distance of over 300 km.