Thread covering the story of Croatia's S-300PMU (SA-10C Grumble C) long-range surface-to-air missile system. 
On May 30th, 1995, a military parade was held in the neighborhood of Jarun in the southwestern part of Zagreb for Statehood Day. 1/20
Croatia displayed most of it's equipment in the parade, including SM-90 launchers armed with V-750M surface-to-air missiles fitted to trucks, of the S-75M Volkhov (SA-2C) system. However, what was behind these systems shocked the crowd and media. 2/20
Behind the Volkhovs were MAN M2000 trucks towing trailers which were fitted with what appeared to be four 5P32 containers for 5V55R missiles of the S-300 system. 3/20
Later, it was said that the containers were actually empty. But how did Croatia acquire such a system while under a UN arms embargo since September 1991? Through the black market, of course. 4/20
In 1994, famous Croat businessman and co-owner of Winsley Finance Limited Zvonko Zubak attempted to negotiate with the Russian government on purchasing the S-300 system. He was refused by both Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev and Yeltsin's staff. 5/20
But Zubak did not give up; instead, he turned to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who then supposedly negotiated a $200 million (at the time’s exchange rate) deal with a Russian oligarch to deliver the S-300PMU system to Croatia. 6/20
Between August 10 and September 15, 1994, 24 5V55R missiles were delivered from Ukraine alongside a power generator, an air compressor and cables for fixing the radar tower. Additionally Croatia paid for 3 transporter erector launcher for the missiles. 7/20
Six sets of four missiles each were reportedly delivered and $11.5 million was paid for them. Croatia's debt for the delivery of weapons amounted to $94 million at that time. 8/20
Instead of 22T62E2 crane based on the Ural-532361-1012 and 5T58E transporters based on KrAZ-260 for the 5P32 containers, MAN M2000 trucks were chosen to mount the containers. 9/20
According to the writings of Borojević, Ivić and Ubović and conversations with senior Croatian officers, Croatia did not acquire the S-300 system as a whole and instead served as a propaganda tool before Operation Storm. 10/20
The Croatian Ministry of Defense claims they only received 30-40% of the system, while Zubak claims 80%. 11/20
If the S-300 was shown at the parade on Jarun on May 30th, 28 days after the end of Operation Flash, the claim about deterring the use of MiG-29 aircraft by Croat media has no basis in facts, because neither the SVK nor VRS operated the aircraft. 12/20
Individuals in Serbia claimed "that the aircraft of the VRS and VJ did not act against the forces of the HV in August 1995, because the air defense of the HV had the S-300 missile system at it's disposal." 13/20
The same individuals also claim that the Croatian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Winsley Finance Limited for the delivery of the S-300 system, which was signed by the then Minister of Defense Gojko Šušak on July 19th, 1994. 14/20
"What Croatia paid dearly for in Ukraine were 24 empty 5P32 containers, a power generator, an air compressor and cables for fixing the radar tower. The whole story about the Croatian S-300 ends in 2004 with an affair." 15/20
On April 14th, 2017, Russian Ambassador to Croatia Anvar Azimov denied Russia ever supplying weapons during the Yugoslav wars after Croatian media claimed it did. 16/20
"Talks were held, but not at our request, but at the request of the other party, which initiated the whole procedure. We rejected the proposal of any cooperation that Mr. Zubak presented on that occasion." 17/20
"Russia and the Russian Embassy did not and do not intend to exert any pressure. on Croatia." 18/20
"The cooperation between Russia and Croatia on the military-technical program took place and continues to take place in accordance with the international obligations that Russia has, and there is nothing in dispute about that." said Azimov, as quoted by Večernji list. 19/20
In December of 2024, the Zagreb County Court ruled that the Government of Croatia must return the S-300 to Zvonko Zubak or pay $200 million with interest from 1997, after a 22 year-long trial. The only problem? Nobody knows where the S-300 is! 20/20
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