Russian forces in Crimea panic, move weapons amid Ukrainian strikes

The partisan group Atesh, which monitors Russian activities in the occupied Crimea, claims that the invaders are in a state of panic, frantically looking for new storage locations for ammunition and equipment. What kind of weaponry is being moved by the Russians?

“The leaders of the occupying forces are making a critical error by relocating these facilities, believing that we won't trace their routes,” was stated in a brief message shared on the Telegram platform.

In addition to tracking ammunition transports, members of the Atesh group have also identified the movement of artillery systems. Attached photos within the statement illustrate, among various equipment, the BM‑27 Uragan.

The BM-27 Uragan, a rocket artillery system, started production in Russia in 1975. Its primary feature is a 16-barrel launcher mounted on a ZIL-135LM truck chassis, rendering it a highly mobile weapon that allows the crew to relocate quickly, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. The system has an impressive range, capable of operating over distances up to 310 miles.

Design-wise, the BM-27 Uragan bears resemblances to the BM-21 Grad, another system deployed by Russian forces in Ukraine. However, the Uragan fires larger 220 mm caliber projectiles, which can carry fragmentation or cluster warheads, offering substantial destructive capability. The effective range of these munitions extends to about 22 miles.

Observers from the Atesh group, alongside others monitoring the conflict in Ukraine, interpret these Russian moves as evidence of their disarray, exacerbated by recent setbacks. This includes a significant assault on the Black Sea Fleet ships, where Ukrainian forces employed, among other things, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, successfully putting two more landing ships out of commission.

The damage inflicted on their naval capabilities is currently a major concern for the Russians. Moreover, they are also troubled by Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. In response, there has been an attempt to reinforce these sites with Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. Nevertheless, British intelligence believes that such measures will likely fall short of their intended objectives.