Russian forces scramble for artillery as shortages worsen
The Russians participating in the fighting in Ukraine are struggling with growing shortages of artillery equipment. This issue is particularly evident with towed guns and some self-propelled ones, whose dwindling supplies are prompting the invaders to resort to unconventional constructions.
Experts and observers of the war in Ukraine often emphasize that artillery has been the main driving force of the Russian offensive since the war began. In recent months, Putin's army has encountered problems with ammunition (including due to Ukrainian attacks on large depots located on Russian territory), as well as shortages of some self-propelled artillery systems.
Russians are feeling shortages of towed artillery
As noted by the Defence Express portal, which specializes in military matters, a similar situation exists with some towed artillery.
Data from the report The Military Balance 2024 is cited, showing that at the beginning of last year, the Russian army had 550 Hyacinth-B towed howitzers and 250 Msta-B towed howitzers. This is a significant decrease compared to 2022, when it had 1,100 Hyacinth-B pieces and 750 Msta-B units.
Hyacinth-B and Msta-B are guns that use 152 mm caliber shells, which is standard for post-Soviet artillery weapons. Developed in the early 1970s and 1990s, respectively, they can hit targets approximately 16 miles away using bare shells. When using rocket-assisted shells, the range increases to about 22 miles.
Shortages are forcing Russians to improvise
The growing problems facing the Russians are prompting them to implement unconventional ideas that likely would not have been realized were it not for the ongoing war and incurred losses. These involve "Frankenstein" constructions.
Defence Express recalls that in December 2024, photos appeared online showing a Hyacinth-B gun mounted on a chassis used in the self-propelled Malva artillery, initially designed for Msta-S or possibly Msta-B guns. It is unclear whether the Russians intend to produce only a few of these constructions or if this concept will be realized on a larger scale.
