Ukrainian forces wreak havoc on Russian military, decimating high-value assets in early 2024

On the Russian-Ukrainian war front, the early days of 2024 resemble the end of 2023. The Russians are launching continuous attacks, suffering heavy losses, while the Ukrainians persist in their defense, taking down enemy personnel and equipment. Despite the aggressor's sporadic advances, they frequently fall back as the Ukrainian Armed Forces launch counterattacks, steadily pushing the Russians eastward.

One aspect of this war that observers and experts find most intriguing is the efficacious targeting of Russian heavy machinery by Ukrainian drone operators. Recently, for the first time, they successfully destroyed a critical counter-battery radar—1K148 Jastreb-AW. Photographs from the third successful offensive against the formidable "Tulip" have also been circulated.

To put it in plain terms, this refers to the heavy-duty, self-propelled 2S4 Tulipan mortar of 240 mm caliber.

The first such incident was reported at the beginning of the year near Donetsk, specifically in the village of Makiivka. The Russians attempted to conceal their "Tulip", but a drone quickly located it. Its coordinates were sent to a HIMARS, which precisely took it out. A similar operation facilitated by drone surveillance was successful in Zaporizhia.

The third event was a dynamic one. The occupiers were on the move with their machinery when the "Tulip" was spotted. There wasn't enough time to send the coordinates and call for precise artillery strikes. Instead, unmanned vehicle operators pursued the enemy.

The video clip shows a moving 2S4 Tulipan system being hit and neutralized.

Each heavy-duty self-propelled mortar has a price tag of approximately 1.5 million dollars.

The unknown longevity of the war in Ukraine remains a matter of speculation. The Russians are ready to fight a protracted war until 2026. In contrast, Kyiv is open to support and has no intention of succumbing to the aggressors. At present, the Ukrainian-Russian war is arguably one of the deadliest conflicts in Russia's history.

So far, Moscow has suffered losses exceeding 360,000 individuals, and further projections only seem grislier.

Renowned analyst Steven Kopits opines that if Putin's soldiers continue to die at this rate, Russia itself may reach a tipping point. The war, which has been ongoing for nearly two years, could possibly end this year if the Russian patience, and, more importantly, equipment diminish at its current pace.