An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows a destroyed Russian S-300 anti-air missile system targeted by Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Verdict: Misleading

The image shows a destroyed Ukrainian S-300 anti-air missile battery, not a Russian one.

Fact Check:

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is looking to provide air defense systems following a wave of Russian cruise missile and drone strikes, according to Politico. The U.S. recently denounced a claim from Russia suggesting Ukraine would use a “dirty bomb” on its own territory to potentially frame Russia, CNBC reported.

The image appears to show a destroyed S-300 battery, targeted by Ukrainian forces. “The Ukrainian Defense Forces have destroyed a Russian S-300 air defense missile system near the Zaporizhzhia region’s city of Tokmak,” The post’s caption reads. The image was also widely shared on Twitter.

Destroyed Russian S-300 battery near Tokmak. #Zaporizhzhia #Tokmak #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Jig4AidTUa

— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) October 14, 2022

The caption is misleading. A reverse image search found that the image shows a destroyed Ukrainian S-300 anti-air battery. The battery was included on Oryx’s list of destroyed Ukrainian equipment, which tracks military losses in various conflicts, including the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The destroyed S-300 battery can be seen in a Mar. 30 video shared by Ukraine Weapons Tracker, an open-source intelligence (OSINT) account that tracks vehicle losses in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

#Ukraine: A Ukrainian S-300PT SAM battery, destroyed by the Russian army in Malyn, #Zhytomyr Oblast – likely in the beginning of the invasion.

As can be seen, the Ukrainian forces lost at least 10 5P851A launchers, 2 F3 command cabins and a 5N66 low altitude acquisition radar. pic.twitter.com/AflgPLhCuZ

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) March 30, 2022

“A Ukrainian S-300PT SAM battery, destroyed by the Russian army in Malyn, #Zhytomyr Oblast – likely in the beginning of the invasion. As can be seen, the Ukrainian forces lost at least 10 5P851A launchers, 2 F3 command cabins and a 5N66 low altitude acquisition radar,” the account tweeted. 

Oryx also debunked the claim on Twitter. (RELATED: Does This Image Show A Woman Shopping While A BBC Reporter Ducks Behind Cover?)

Destroyed Ukrainian S-300PT battery from February, 2022. https://t.co/ZMoe5Ln0bM

— Oryx (@oryxspioenkop) October 14, 2022

“Destroyed Ukrainian S-300PT battery from February, 2022,” Oryx tweeted.

Misinformation about vehicle losses in Ukraine is not new. Check Your Fact recently fact-checked an image claiming to show a destroyed Ukrainian tank.