Artillery in Ukraine: A Close Look at Losses and Impact

The war in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on artillery systems. Kyiv's military reports that over 20, 000 Russian artillery pieces have been lost since February 2022. This figure comes from Kyiv's General Staff, who also mentioned that 58 more systems were destroyed in recent days. While these numbers can't be independently verified, they highlight the significant losses Russia has faced. Artillery plays a crucial role in this conflict, which is the largest land war in Europe since World War II. Both Ukraine and Russia rely heavily on these systems. Ukraine uses various types, including the U. S. -donated HIMARS and different howitzers. Russia, on the other hand, has lost a substantial number of its artillery pieces, like the 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer. Kyiv has developed its own Bohdana howitzer, which uses the same 155mm shells as NATO weapons. According to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, they are producing nearly 20 of these howitzers each month. Russia claims Ukraine has lost almost 17, 000 artillery pieces and mortars, along with 1, 482 multiple launch rocket systems.

Artillery is often responsible for a significant number of casualties along the extensive front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine. It's used to target enemy positions and protect advancing forces. Marina Miron, a researcher from King's College London, explained that artillery is especially important in static frontline sections where there are no major advances. While Ukraine has been asking for more artillery systems from its Western allies, the priority this year has been to get enough ammunition to keep the current systems running. Earlier this year, Ukraine was firing only about a fifth of the number of rounds Russia was using. Western countries are trying to produce more ammunition, but sourcing it quickly and consistently remains a challenge for Ukraine.

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