In a video published on December 26, 2025, by Prymary “Ghosts” unit of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, a particularly intriguing destroyed object can be seen. In the original caption, it was identified as a launcher of the S-300V surface-to-air missile system, with the location specified as temporarily occupied Crimea.
The moment of impact is visible in the video at the 0:38 mark:
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At the same time, analysts from Vodogray pointed out that the launcher does not closely resemble an S-300V system, but instead bears a much stronger resemblance to the Belarusian Polonez missile system.
From the Defense Express perspective, it is worth noting that the inclined position of the launch tubes and the square cross-section of the transport-launch containers are clearly uncharacteristic of the S-300V air defense system. Previously documented strikes against S-300V elements illustrate these differences more convincingly.
Nevertheless, confirming that the destroyed target was indeed a Polonez system requires a very cautious approach. Although a transfer of this system from Belarus to russia could theoretically have taken place, it was never officially announced. Moreover, such a transfer would not have been possible without China’s consent for re-export, including approval for the supply of associated munitions.
It should also be recalled that Polonez is essentially a Chinese missile system mounted on a Belarusian MZKT-7930 wheeled chassis. It employs 301 mm A200 missiles with a range of up to 200 km, a warhead weighing 100–150 kg, and a stated accuracy of 30–50 meters. It can also use A300 missiles with a range of up to 300 km, which feature a two-stage design. At the same time, Minsk has claimed the production of localized variants designated B200 and B300.
The configuration of the transport-launch containers on the destroyed target closely resembles that of the Polonez system, which operates two missile types, A200 and A300. The visible configuration of the chassis also appears to be wheeled rather than tracked, unlike the chassis used by the S-300V system.
Other possible explanations should also be considered and excluded. For example, the Uragan-1M multiple launch rocket system uses somewhat similar launchers and chassis. However, this dual-caliber system employs launcher pods with 220 mm and/or 300 mm rocket tubes, rather than four individual transport-launch containers.
Uragan-1M multiple launch rocket system
Nor should the possibility be dismissed that the destroyed system could have been an original Chinese rocket artillery system, more commonly known as the AR-3 MRL or, in the version used by China’s own armed forces, the PHL-16.
AR-3 MRL, PHL-16
There is, however, another important detail to consider. In September 2024, the Belarusian state news agency BelTA, citing local expert Viktor Baranets, reported that Belarusian military personnel were training russian troops to operate this system at a training range in russia’s Astrakhan region.
This significantly increases the likelihood that the destroyed target was indeed a Polonez system. At the same time, the possibility remains that the low resolution of the video, especially given that it was recorded in the thermal imaging spectrum, combined with the viewing angle, could be misleading and allow the imagination to fill in missing details.
Therefore, it is also entirely possible that the object in question was a standard 9A83 launcher or a 9A85 launcher-loader vehicle from the S-300V air defense system, equipped with four cylindrical transport-launch containers. These containers may have been in the process of being raised into the vertical firing position or lowered into the transport position. The apparent difference in container sizes could simply be the result of their unsynchronized movement.
9A83 and 9A82 launchers of the S-300V air defense system
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