Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk revealed on social media that Kyiv’s forces were able to neutralize a Russian S-300 missile system in an unspecified Russian territory.

She said the historic strike was achieved on the first day of being allowed to use donated weapons to strike deep into Russia.

“It burns well. This is a Russian S-300. On Russian territory,” she wrote.

Vereshchuk, who also serves as the Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, did not say which Western weapon was responsible for the kill.

Long Overdue?

The milestone was reported amid an increasing number of countries allowing Ukraine to use their donated weapons for strikes deep into Russia.

Kyiv previously claimed that it could not strike Russian troops massing near their border because of the restrictions on the long-range weapons supplied by the West.

However, Ukraine’s allies have slowly lifted their policies, with Germany, Sweden, Poland, Canada, and Denmark now supporting Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.

“It is completely within the rules of war that a country that is attacked must be able to answer for itself,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.

The US has also recently given Kyiv some considerations, including granting broader use of its supplied weapons but only to defend the embattled Kharkiv region.

About the S-300

The S-300 is a Soviet-era surface-to-air missile system currently in service with both the Russian and Ukrainian military.

It is designed to shoot down hostile aircraft, drones, and incoming cruise and ballistic missiles at a maximum range of 150 kilometers (93 miles).

It was the same missile that accidentally hit Poland in 2022 — a strike initially blamed on Moscow but was later found to have been caused by a Ukrainian mishap.

It was also the weapon used by Syria to strike Israeli Air Force jets two years ago.

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An undisclosed number of S-300 surface-to-air missile systems — which Bulgaria said it is unable to repair — will be sent to Ukraine, following the decision by lawmakers.

The missiles to be sent to Ukraine are thought to be over 30 years old, said Admiral Emil Evtimov, Bulgaria’s Chief of Defense.

Some were even dangerous to keep, since they had not passed maintenance tests, he added.

“These are defective missiles that… Bulgaria cannot repair, but they can be used for Ukraine’s air defence,” said Hristo Gadjev, the chairman of the parliamentary defense committee.

Ammunition for small arms from police stocks will also be sent, according to the decision, voted through in a closed session Wednesday following a heated debate.

“Everything has been adopted,” Delyan Peevski, one of the backers of the initiative, told state radio. “The subject is closed.”

EU and NATO member Bulgaria has large quantities of Soviet-style weapons coveted by Ukraine and also produces arms and ammunition.

The country remains historically and culturally very close to Moscow and has been deeply divided over sending aid to Ukraine.

In July, Bulgaria announced it would send about 100 armored personnel carriers (APCs) to Ukraine, a reverse of its previous policy to refrain from directly supplying arms to the war-torn country.

Apart from the promised APCs, which still need to be delivered, Bulgaria has mostly provided flak jackets and helmets to Kyiv.

This latest proposal was tabled by three parliamentary groups, which between them have 168 out of 240 seats.

The Socialist opposition boycotted the vote, denouncing the decision as a “national betrayal.”

On Tuesday, pro-Russian President Rumen Radev criticized the government and the parliament alike for becoming what he called “donors to foreign armies.”

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The system’s battery’s garrison near Masyaf, Syria, was found empty on August 19, The Drive reported, citing images released by private intelligence firm ImageSat Intl.

The outlet added that battery vehicles were seen parked near the Russian naval base in Tartus “with the cargo ship Sparta II waiting across the harbor.”

Russia “gifted” the battery to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in 2018 to protect “critical” targets while retaining the rights over the system.

Private Israeli intelligence firm @ImageSatIntl publishes satellite images showing that Russia has apparently moved its S-300 system out of Syria back to Russia. pic.twitter.com/pYDbtT1gaz

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) August 26, 2022

Battery Approaching Crimea

The Sparta — a US-sanctioned vessel known to transport military cargo — left Tartus on August 20 and crossed the Bosporus Strait, Turkey, overnight on August 24-25. 

It then anchored at the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea on the 27th, Naval News wrote, citing a video posted on Twitter by ship observer Yörük Işık.

Novorossiysk is a major Russian naval port around 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Crimea.

.@USTreasury designated [UKRAINE-EO13685], @mod_russia owned Oboronlogistika's, civilian crewed Russian flag roro Sparta II transited Bosphorus towards Med en route from #Tartus #Syria to Novorossiysk carrying military cargo. @egetulca pic.twitter.com/fsGlSfz4i8

— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) August 27, 2022

Could Be Deployed Against Land Targets

The Drive observed that the S-300 battery could be deployed either in Crimea or near Russia’s border with Ukraine. 

The system has been proven ineffective against M31 GMLRS rockets, the Ukrainian HIMARS’ primary munition. However, the system is likely to have a greater impact on fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

The system can also be used for guided missile strikes against Ukrainian ground targets as the Russian armed forces are running low on Kalibr cruise missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles, according to Ukrainian military intelligence estimates.

The post Russia Pulls S-300 From Syria With Likely Black Sea Deployment appeared first on The Defense Post.

The aircraft returned unscathed as the system’s radar couldn’t lock in on the jets.

The unprecedented incident took place on Friday night near the northwestern Syrian city of Masyaf in retaliation for the Israeli air operation, which resulted in five dead and seven injured, the outlet wrote, citing a Syrian state news agency. 

Six Killed in Israeli Attack

Other Syrian outlets claimed that the Israeli air bombardment killed six crew members of the Russian Pantsir air defense system trying to down the aircraft, according to The Times of Israel.

The Israeli government has not commented on the incident or the air operation, but satellite images of the area showed a damaged underground facility. 

The Israeli news outlet reported that the targeted area was “thought to be used as a base for Iranian forces and pro-Iranian militias,” and has been struck multiple times. 

Israel-Russia Agreement

In previous incidents, Israeli aircraft have not encountered a Russian S-300 air defense system, which is operated by Russian forces, the outlet wrote, citing Channel 13. 

The two countries reportedly have an understanding to avoid targeting each other in Syria, including establishing a hotline. 

Under the informal agreement, Israel informs Russia prior to carrying out operations inside Syrian territory. In return, Israeli forces do not need to seek permission from Moscow to attack targets in Syria.

Deteriorating Relationship Over Ukraine

Israel has been carrying out air strikes against arms shipments bound for the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group inside Syrian territory since 2011 when civil war broke out. It also targets Russian-backed Syrian government positions.

The incident occurred amid a deterioration in relations between the two countries over the Ukraine invasion, as Israel has increased its criticism of the human rights violations committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Jerusalem has also registered its displeasure over growing anti-semitism in Russia, including recent comments by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in which he claimed that Adolf Hitler “was part Jewish.”

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The outlet added that the US acquired the systems decades ago to examine their technology and train American forces on them, citing an unnamed American official. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the reported development.

According to the outlet, the SA-8 — Russian name 9K33 Osa — is one of the Soviet-made systems being sent to Ukraine.

The mobile SA-8 has a range of 30 kilometers (19 miles) and a top speed of 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour on land and 8 kilometers (5 miles) per hour on the water.

US Arms Package

The SA-8 will be an upgrade on the already supplied Stinger air-defense missile system to the country that can take down helicopters and low flying aircraft at an altitude of up to 4.8 kilometers (3 miles).

The development comes a week after US President Joe Biden announced a $1 billion security package to assist Ukraine, including “800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 9,000 anti-tank weapons, 7,000 light weapons, and 20 million rounds of ammunition.” The arms aid package also includes 100 Switchblade drones.

Biden added that the US would help the country acquire “additional longer-range anti-aircraft systems.”

The Soviet-made systems would be easier to handle for the Ukrainian forces due to their familiarity with such systems. The Ukrainian military already possesses some of the Soviet-made air defense systems such as the S-300. The outlet, however, ruled out sending the S-300 to the besieged country.

To Establish de Facto ‘No-Fly Zone’

The fresh infusion of air defense systems to Ukraine is reportedly geared towards helping the country establish a de facto “no-fly zone” over its airspace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly requested a no-fly zone only to be rebuffed by the US and NATO, fearing that it might pit them directly against the Russians.

The US has also not decided yet on Slovakia’s proposal of sending its S-300 to Ukraine if Washington provides a replacement.  

Meanwhile, Biden will attend a NATO summit this week in Brussels to discuss “ongoing deterrence and defense efforts” for Ukraine.

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“We’ve been in discussion with the United States, with Ukraine, and also with other allies on the possibility to deploy or to send altogether our S-300 systems to the Ukrainians,” Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad told reporters.

“We’re willing to do so immediately when we have a proper replacement,” he added alongside US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Bratislava.

Nad said that handing over “the only strategic air defense system that we have in Slovakia” would “create a security gap in NATO.”

“But yes, should there be a situation that we have a proper replacement or that we have a capability guaranteed for a certain period of time, then we would be willing to discuss the future of the S-300 systems,” he added.

Austin confirmed there were talks on the matter but said he had no announcements to make.

“These are things that we will continue to work with all of our allies on and certainly this is not just a US issue. It’s a NATO issue,” he told reporters.

Earlier Thursday, Nad mentioned that Slovakia was still dependent on Russia for the servicing of the S-300 system.

“I wonder how we should service it, modernize it, provide spare parts when a country that can do so is a war aggressor and any cooperation with that country is impossible?” Nad told reporters alongside his Slovenian counterpart.

“Slovakia needs to get rid of this dependence on Russia as soon as possible,” he added.

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The upgrade, planned in Rostov Oblast and Crimea, is part of the country’s southern military district rearmament, the outlet added. The system will be deployed alongside the S- 400 and the C-350 Vityaz.

Increased NATO Presence

The planned deployment of the PM-2 system has come as the Black Sea and east of Ukraine have seen “unprecedented activity of reconnaissance aircraft and navies of NATO countries,” the outlet wrote, citing Russia’s former deputy minister of foreign affairs Sergei Ordzhonikidze.

“From this region, NATO planes and ships can launch missile attacks on cities in the south and even the center of the country, including Moscow. New technology, as well as the capabilities of our armed forces in this area, play an important role in influencing international politics,” the outlet added.

Upgrade on S-300

Citing Lieutenant General Aytech Bizhev, the outlet explained that the system is better equipped to intercept “cruise missiles and other air targets with a small reflective surface,” in comparison to the S-300. 

It added that the system’s enhanced “noise immunity” enables it to perform better against counter-electronic warfare scenarios, while its “automation processes information faster,” resulting in quicker reaction to enemy actions.

Ongoing Military Modernization

The system can intercept air targets such as “fifth-generation aircraft, short-range ballistic missiles, and tactical medium-range ballistic missiles,” at a range of 250 km (155 miles). Additionally, the PM-2 boasts a “more powerful” munition, more advanced multifunctional radar station, mobile command post, and guidance station (firing radar).”

Meanwhile, the south district has received over 1,500 pieces of new military equipment this year, “including helicopters, aircraft, ships and armored vehicles, as well as communications and electronic warfare.” The infusion of new weapons has raised the district’s share of modernized military equipment to 71 percent. 

The post Russia to Upgrade Air Defense Along Ukraine Border appeared first on The Defense Post.

Shoygu said Syrian military personnel had already undergone training to operate the S-300 system, Interfax reported.

Russia and Syria concluded a contract for the S-300 in 2010 but its implementation was delayed due to Israeli requests.

Last week, the Syrian S-200 system mistakenly shot down a Russian Ilyushin-20 plane, killing all 15 crew on board and threatening to damage relations between Russia and Israel, which had launched airstrikes in the area where the plane was operating.

Moscow has accused Israel’s fighter pilots of using the larger Ilyushin aircraft as cover, causing Syria’s Soviet-era S-200 air defence system to interpret the Russian plane as a target and shoot it down.

All Syrian command posts will be outfitted with automatic control systems to “ensure identification of all Russian aircraft,” Sputnik reported Shoygu as saying.

Shoygu further said that Russia would begin “radio-electronic suppression of satellite navigation, on-board radar systems and communication systems of military aviation attacking objects on Syrian territory,” an apparent reference to Israel but possibly including the U.S.-led Coalition whose aircraft continue to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State.

On Sunday, Russian defense ministry spokesperson Major-General Igor Konashenkov blamed Israeli “adventurism” for the mishap. Israel denies Russia’s version of events and its air force commander flew to Moscow following the incident, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the result of a “chain of tragic accidental circumstances.”

Israel and Russia set up a hotline three years ago to avoid incidents in the crowded Syrian airspace.

The Israel Defense Forces said its fighter jets did not use the Il-20 as cover and that the Israeli aircraft were in Israeli airspace at the time the plane was downed.

The IDF says it was targeting a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were “about to be transferred on behalf of Iran” to Lebanese group Hezbollah, which could be used to attack Israel.

In 2013, Voice of America noted that Israel has threatened to destroy the S-300 missiles if they are deployed in Syria.

Russia’s dangerous disregard to the growing Iran-Israel war in Syria

This story was updated several times on September 24 with additional comments from Shoygu and background information.

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The deputy commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, General Abolfazl Sepehrirad, told Tasnim news on Saturday, January 6 that the Bavar-373 air defense missile system has successfully completed all of its initial tests, marking the latest step toward the goal of making the system operational before the end of the Persian year in March.

Sepehrirad also said that training on the Russian S-300 system is underway in Iran.

In September 2017, the base’s commander, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, said that Bavar-373 will be delivered to the base and be fully operational by March, Press TV reported. Esmaili said that all Bavar-373 sub-system tests were complete and missile tests had been conducted.

Esmaili said that the system “is made completely in Iran and some of its parts are different from those of S-300,” but that Iran wants to use the Bavar-373 alongside the Russian S-300 system it received in July 2016.

Iran began to design the Bavar-373 system after Russia suspended delivery in 2010 of at least five S-300s under a 2007 contract. The first images of the system were released by the Iranian presidency in August 2016.

The system uses up to three different missiles to hit targets at various altitudes. Iran’s defense minister Hossein Dehghan said in 2016 that it is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. “We did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300 – we wanted to build an Iranian system, and we built it,” Dehghan said.

According to Janes, Bavar-373 is “clearly a unique Iranian system that appears to reflect extensive investment in its ability to develop phased array radars.”

#Iran officially unveils home grown Bavar-373 missile defense system pic.twitter.com/U98qK2Y5KD

— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) August 21, 2016

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