Ukraine war: Desperate Russian artillery tactics raise eyebrows

For months, Ukrainians have been methodically trying to destroy Russian artillery, causing problems in replacing lost guns. Some Russians solve this problem through front-line engineering, taking on bizarre forms. Let's present a towed howitzer made from scrap and a damaged BMP-1.

It is worth noting that in the Ukrainian war, both Ukrainians and Russians improvised, but the former's projects usually fulfilled a specific purpose. Meanwhile, Russian modifications often seemed pointless and chaotic and involved adding scrap as armour.

Of course, there are also successful examples, like, for instance, "armoured barns," which are fairly resistant to simple FPV drones. However, the below-towed Howitzer with a 73-millimetre calibre, created by pulling a turret most likely from a non-combat capable BMP-1 armoured personnel carrier (APC) and nearby scrap, does not belong in that category.

The 2A28 Grom gun with a 73-millimetre calibre used in the BMP-1 APCs, which were revolutionary 50 years ago with a firing rate of 6-8 rounds/min, is now useless against armoured targets. For combating infantry soldiers hidden in fortifications or buildings, automatic cannons are more suitable. This is why, among other reasons, the Russians abandoned the 2A28 Grom cannon in the BMP-2.

However, some time ago, Ukrainians began using their BMP-1 APCs as improvised artillery with a range of 4.5 kilometres, or a bit more if the turret is set at a greater angle. The explosive means are OG-15V high-explosive fragmentation rounds with a destructive power similar to mortar rounds.

The rationale for this could still be explained for the BMP-1, which can quickly change its position after a few shots, but the same cannot be said for the towed form presented by the Russians.

Each activation of such artillery will draw counter-battery fire within minutes. Moreover, the footage shows that even the Russian construction lacks proper stabilisation, which causes it to shift after firing. This makes accurate targeting impossible, and the shells essentially fall wherever.