Ukrainian drone strikes decimate Russian artillery in Donetsk
A video has been published on social media showcasing the efforts of one of the Ukrainian battalions. Using FPV assault drones, it carried out as many as 10 successful attacks on Russian equipment. We explain what the invaders lost.
The video showcases the losses inflicted on the Russians by a battalion belonging to the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army, which is holding the front in the Donetsk region. FPV assault drone operators managed to hit as many as eight Russian D-20 howitzers, as well as an Msta-B howitzer and a 2B9 Vasilek automatic mortar.
Ukrainian drones decimate Russians
The means employed by the Ukrainians are unsurprising. The ongoing war on their territory is often referred to as a "drone war" since both sides are using various types of unmanned aerial vehicles on a large scale. FPV (first person view) drones are unmanned aerial vehicles with a built-in camera that provides the pilot with a live view in real-time until the moment of impact.
These are usually small, inexpensive commercial drones, slightly modified for military use. They can be outfitted with explosive charges or grenades. In the first case, they turn into kamikaze weapons, while in the second case, they are used to drop grenades on enemy equipment from above.
Post-Soviet Russian artillery
The D-20 howitzers are very old equipment, developed back in the 1940s. They use 152-millimeter calibre projectiles, which can strike targets, depending on the type of ammunition, at a distance of about 18 to 24 kilometres, with a firing rate of up to six rounds per minute. Each of these howitzers weighs around 5.6 tonnes, is 8.7 metres long in the marching position, and must be operated by 8-10 soldiers.
From the Ukrainian perspective, the problem is that 152-millimetre calibre projectiles can be used, which the Russians receive as support from North Korea. Although the supplied ammunition sometimes fails, they can afford more attacks.
In the case of the Msta-B howitzers, the 152-millimetre calibre gun is also used, but more types of projectiles are handled. It is much newer equipment, introduced into service in 1987, but it is also towed and not self-propelled. It weighs just under 7 tonnes and measures over 12 metres in length.
It's different with the 2B9 Vasilek. It's an automatic mortar, similar to the D-20 howitzer in that it dates back to the Soviet Union era, but it's somewhat younger, as it was developed in the 1970s. In this weapon, the Russians use 82-millimetre calibre projectiles with a range of up to about 4 kilometres. However, its firing rate is several dozens of shots per minute.
