Thread by @magictouch190

This is the Ukrainian S-300V1 air defense system thread that nobody asked for.

Admittedly much less is known about this system compared to the S-300P. However it is not quite the enigma-wrapped-in-a-mystery-wrapped-in-a-(pixel coloured)-vest that it has been made out to be.
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OPSEC note: everything is from open sources. Furthermore, vatniks already know all this and have written as much. Only English-speaking Ukraine supporters are in the dark.
Photo credits: everything is either from Ukraine government entities and/or from mil.in.ua
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What is an S-300V? A Soviet mobile heavy air defense system from the 1980s that uses 2 types of interceptors
Is it related to the S-300P? No
What is an S-300V1? Early production version that only has the smaller interceptor and associated radars
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S-300V was designed for the Soviet ground forces while the S-300P was for the PVO. This is why the smallest functional S-300P unit is a battalion, while S-300V battalions are composed of batteries (like the Buk). S-300V battery has 3-6 launchers. A bn has 3-4 batteries.
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Ukraine inherited 2 x S-300V1 brigades, each having 3 battalions.

The first brg (25th zrbr) was disbanded in 2001-02 and its equipment was xferred to the remaining brg (137th zrbr in Uman’).

The S-300V1 became part of the UkrAF, which also operates the S-300PS/PT and Buk
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There is no indication that at any point before 2012 Ukraine had the capability to perform heavy maintenance, repair and/or overhaul on any major parts of the S-300V1 system. It was likely entirely reliant on russia to perform this work.

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In 2012 the remaining S-300V1 brigade was disbanded.

If its condition was similar to other units at the time it is likely that it only had enough staff/equipment for about 1 battalion

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After the invasion in 2014 the S-300V1 system was returned to service.

A separate battalion (2014th) was re-established, equipped with mix of S-300V1 and Buk, still based in Uman’ but subordinate to an S-300PS brigade (the 201st) in Mykolaiv region.

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Some of its equipment was seen on duty in the east of the country and can even be seen in Google Earth imagery.

However, it was noteworthy that no S-300V1 live fire took place in 2014-2017 while all other systems participated

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In late 2017 at least one S-300V1 system component was seen at the annual live fire exercises, but the system did not participate in the actual live fire

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The first S-300V1 live fire since being returned to service did take place in the late 2018 annual exercise.

This was performed by the same battalion that was re-established in 2014/15.

(pic unrelated)

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Also in 2018 statements were made about the intention to bring back a full regiment/brigade of S-300V1 into service (bearing in mind that in 2014-2018 only 1 battalion was RTSd)

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Also in 2018 the first mention of a new regiment, the 210 zrp, is made. This is supposed to be the new higher level S-300V1 unit.

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In 2019 a 2nd S-300V1 battalion is said to be in the process of being formed.

By 2021 an S-300V1 battalion patch is seen that has a different number than the Bn formed in 2014-15.

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As of early 2021 at least one S-300V1 separate battalion was still active within the 201st brigade (S-300PS unit) so the existence of a separate S-300V1 regiment (210 zrp) is highly questionable

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In summary: by Feb 2022 the UkrAF likely had close to 2 S-300V1 battalions. Each Bn likely had multiple batteries. The S-300V1 has ABM capability but can not be assumed the UkrAF takes advantage of this

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P.S. a full blown S-300V battery includes not only 2 different types of TELARs (small and large interceptor, 4 and 2 missiles) but also corresponding TELs (no radar). So the # of "launchers" per battery can vary widely, 3-6 is a simplification.

P.P.S. note that in this picture the vehicle with the crane is a TEL "re-loader" while the green launcher is a TELAR (has radar mast which is not visible, no crane)