Ukraine's artillery struggles: The silent guns dilemma
According to "Forbes" analyst David Axe, Ukraine's most powerful 2S7 Pion artillery guns are increasingly "silent." In his assessment, this is not due to the Ukrainian army's equipment losses but rather problems with ammunition. The specific issue is the non-standard 203 mm caliber shells, with a very limited group of potential suppliers.
Axe notes that at the beginning of the war in February 2022, the Ukrainian army had about 100 2S7 Pion howitzers in service. These were crucial in the initial defense of Kyiv and were then dispersed across the country to support Ukrainian brigades operating along the eastern front line. In recent months, their use has become rare, even though the Russians have destroyed (or captured) only about 10 units. The challenge for the Ukrainians remains the 203 mm caliber shells.
Ukrainians face an ammunition challenge for the 2S7 Pion
Ukrainian stocks of these shells have most likely been depleted. Currently, only Russia produces them, forcing Kyiv to seek reinforcements among allies, which is not an easy task. Reports from the front have confirmed that Ukrainians used, among other things, American M106 artillery shells in the 2S7 Pion.
The administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden provided Ukraine with about 10,000 M105 and M106 shells in 2023. Axe suggests that expecting more aid now will be difficult, both due to Donald Trump's approach and the dwindling supplies of this ammunition in American warehouses. The analyst believes that among European countries favorable to Ukraine, the main holders of 203 mm caliber shells are likely Greece and Turkey.
"If the 45th Artillery Brigade’s 2S7s disappear and reappear again, look to Turkey to understand why," writes Axe.
The role of atomic artillery in the war in Ukraine
The 2S7 Pion artillery systems date back to the Soviet Union era. They were designed in the early 1970s. Despite some drawbacks, mainly a low firing rate of 1.5 rounds per minute, their range is comparable to NATO artillery.
They can hit targets about 35 kilometres away, and with rocket-assisted shells, their range extends to up to 50 kilometres. They also deliver significant firepower—the shells weigh about 100 kilograms and cause the ground around the howitzer to shake during firing. Initially, there were even plans to use the 2S7 Pion for firing shells with nuclear and chemical warheads, but currently, they serve neither Ukrainians nor Russians for this purpose.
The 2S7 Pion weighs 46 metric tonnes and measures over 13 metres in length. In 1983, the Russians developed a modernized version of this self-propelled gun—the 2S7 Malka, which focused on a higher firing rate and more space for additional ammunition.
