Russia faces significant artillery losses as Ukraine claims 13,000 systems destroyed
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that the defending army has destroyed 13,000 enemy artillery systems since the beginning of the war. What types of weapons are the Russians losing most frequently?
8:31 AM EDT, May 30, 2024
“13,000 russian artillery systems have been destroyed since the beginning of the russian full-scale invasion. +1,018 since the beginning of May,” wrote the Ukrainians in a statement published on the X service.
Russians are losing their artillery
Although the war in Ukraine is often discussed in terms of Western equipment supplied to the defending army or the growing importance of drones, artillery is still commonly referred to as the "god of war." Both sides of the ongoing conflict use various types of systems. For the Russians, these are most often systems produced during the Soviet Union. Despite being older, many of these systems are still dangerous and provide significant firepower.
They most frequently lose 2S1 Gvozdika, 2S3 Akatsiya, and 2S5 Giatsint systems from publicly available information and systematically appearing reports on Russian losses. The 2S1 Gvozdika uses 122-mm rounds with a maximum range of about 9 miles. The 2S3 Akatsiya and 2S5 Giatsint are based on 152-mm cannons and can hit targets at distances of approximately 11 miles and 17 miles, respectively.
The heavy artillery used by the Russians primarily includes the 2S7 Pion, which has almost disappeared from the front in recent weeks. This results from successful Ukrainian efforts to eliminate such equipment and the Russians' problems supplying replacement units.
Unreliable Russian artillery
The 2S7 Pion artillery systems were constructed in the early 1970s. They are notable for their range of approximately 25 miles, which allows them to be compared to NATO equipment. In the case of rocket-boosted rounds, the range increases to up to 31 miles. Additionally, the 2S7 Pion stands out with its 203-mm rounds, providing enormous firepower.
In contrast to the 2S7 Pion, the Russians find it easier to send more 2S1 Gvozdika, 2S3 Akatsiya, and 2S5 Giatsint systems to the front. Despite significant depletion, their reserves are still sufficient for the coming months.
Among the newer types of these weapons, the Russians have high hopes for the Koalitsiya-SV artillery, which they believe “will revolutionize the battle.” They said the same, however, about the T-90 and T-14 Armata tanks. The T-90 has disappointed Ukraine, and the T-14 Armata tanks were not sent to the front at all out of fear of their loss.
