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SHOCK AND AWE
Inside Ukraine’s crack artillery squadrons’ deadly duel with Russian forces as Zelensky begs for long-range weapons
THE Sun has joined Ukraine’s artillery in a deadly duel with Russian forces — and watched a crack gun team launch a rapid strike in ten minutes before bolting for safety.
We gained exclusive access to a Ukrainian howitzer crew pounding the southern front with 152mm shells.
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After almost four months of Putin’s slaughter, ground is increasingly won and lost by the speed, range and skill of artillery teams.
Ukraine is desperate for bigger, more modern weapons to enable it to blitz Russian positions from up to 44 miles away.
But as Western allies drag their feet with deliveries of high-tech rockets and artillery, frontline troops are relying on decades-old, Soviet-era guns.
The Sun joined a squad of gunners at a secret lying-up position where their howitzers are hidden from Russian drones.
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As soldiers ate borscht from tin bowls, their radios crackled to life with details of their latest mission.
They grabbed their body armour and sprinted to the truck — which tows a Soviet-era Msta-B gun with a 23ft barrel.
Seconds later they were on the move, roaring through the countryside to a secret firing position.
As they drove, commanders double-checked the calculations about range, ammunition, wind speed, weather and temperature — which all affect a shell in flight.
The Sun agreed not to reveal where they fired from to protect the crew.
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Both sides have radar which can detect incoming rounds, trace the shells’ trajectories and use them to pinpoint the enemy’s positions.
Staff Lieutenant Ruslan, a gun commander who only gave his first name, said they never spend more than 20 minutes in one location.
The day we joined Lt Ruslan he had already fired four times that morning — once at a Russian tank, once at artillery and twice at teams of drone operators.
He said: “The drone teams are deep behind enemy lines. We are the only ones who can get them.”
They missed the tank by 3ft, but he said: “We made their artillery run.”
Parts of his seven-ton weapon were pockmarked by shrapnel holes from previous Russian bombardments.
On his busiest day he said he fired 200 rounds over a 24-hour period without a break. He added: “Most days its 30 to 40 shells.”
The Msta-B gun has a maximum range of 18 miles, but Ukraine has warned it is running low on the longest range ammunition.
As we raced along dusty roads behind the towed artillery gun, a soldier in our vehicle gave urgent instructions — to flee as soon as the last round was fired.
He added: “If the gun gets damaged we leave it. We can always come back for it later.”
The lorry towing the howitzer screeched to a halt in a cornfield and soldiers leapt out to unhitch it and secure its tails, which act as a brace.
The drone teams are deep behind enemy lines. We are the only ones who can get them.
Staff Lieutenant Ruslan
Their comrades pulled off a dust sheet while others spun dials to set the barrel’s direction. At the same time, soldiers laid out the charges and shells on a mat behind the gun.
It took them less than six minutes before the breech was slammed shut and the gun team braced for the blast.
In a steady voice, Lt Ruslan gave the order to fire. Flame and smoke burst out of the barrel and within seconds the next round was in and ready to go.
After they finished shelling, the crew departed within four minutes.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russian advances in the bomb-blitzed eastern Donbas were down to “artillery terror”. He said: “Russian artillery outguns ours by one to 15 at the most crucial parts of the front line.
“We urgently need more heavy weapons from various sources to turn the tide in our favour and save lives.” America has promised to send four M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS.
With the right ammunition they can blast targets 186 miles away. But officials said Ukraine would only get rockets which can fire 44 miles.
Britain and another unnamed country have pledged to send Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems which have a similar range. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the first ones from Britain will arrive within days.
Britain has also bought 20 self-propelled heavy artillery guns — howitzers on tracks — as well as sending thousands of NLAW anti-tank weapons, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles.
But Ukraine’s Mr Kuleba said it was not enough. He said: “Our most pressing needs are for hundreds of multiple-launch rocket systems and various 155mm artillery pieces.
“The pivotal moment will come when our armed forces use Western-provided multiple launch rocket systems to destroy Russia’s artillery, turning the tide in Ukraine’s favour along the entire front line.”
It came as PM Boris Johnson warned yesterday the world must not grow weary of standing by Ukraine while Russian tyrant Putin tries to grind the country down.
Mr Kuleba said: “The West must understand the stakes and consequences of our failure.
“If we lose, there will not just be no more Ukraine, there will be no prosperity or security in Europe.”
For the artillery soldiers the reality is even more stark. It is their lives which are at stake every day.
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Chief Lieutenant Sula, 32, another gun commander, said: “It is dangerous but it is our job to defend our country. Every time we fire we get faster and more effective. But every time there’s a risk.
“My priority is to make sure I bring all my guys home alive.”
DOG HAS EAR FOR DANGER
A DOG has become an unlikely early warning system keeping his owners safe from Russian artillery.
Barsik lives with Lubov, 60, on the frontline village of Shevchenkove in her shrapnel-scarred home.
He will play happily despite regular blasts of outgoing artillery.
But the moment Russian guns reply the mongrel dashes to the shed for shelter.
Lubov said: “If Barack is relaxed we relax too.”
Husband Leonid, 62, uses crutches to walk but said: “I can move fast enough when I have to.”
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