- Category
- War in Ukraine
Ukraine’s FPV Drones Catch Russian 2S3 Akatsiya Artillery System Before It Can Open Fire, Video
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed a Russian self-propelled artillery system before it could reach a firing position on the Slovyansk axis, according to footage released by Ukraine’s 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade on May 25.
The brigade said Russian troops attempted to move a self-propelled gun into position to fire on Ukrainian units. Aerial reconnaissance operators spotted the vehicle in time, after which FPV strike drone crews hit the target.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
In its statement, the brigade identified the system as a 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, while earlier descriptions referred to a 2S1 Gvozdika. Both are Soviet-designed self-propelled artillery systems used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
According to the brigade, the Russian crew managed to escape, but the artillery system was destroyed before it could be used.
“We intercepted enemy self-propelled artillery on its way to positions on the Slovyansk direction! Yesterday morning, the enemy attempted to move a 2S3 Akatsiya to its firing positions. Thanks to the coordinated work of aerial reconnaissance operators and FPV strike drone crews, an immediate hit was delivered, leaving the Soviet equipment no chance,” the brigade said.
The unit added that Russian commanders may now reassign the surviving artillery crew as infantry after losing the vehicle.
“The crew managed to save themselves, but the great Russian commanders may possibly retrain the artillerymen as infantrymen for the lost equipment and force them to move toward our positions,” the brigade said.
The situation on the Slovyansk axis remains difficult. According to the 81st Brigade, Russian forces are constantly trying to infiltrate the space between Ukrainian positions, using dense forest belts to bypass defensive lines from the flanks.
Russian troops are also systematically striking logistics routes and remotely mining supply lines, complicating efforts to deliver resources to forward positions.
“Despite the enemy’s intense pressure, the Slobozhanshchyna paratroopers are holding the defense and preventing a breakthrough toward one of the largest hubs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces—the city of Slovyansk,” the brigade said.
Earlier, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian TOS-1A “Solntsepyok” heavy flamethrower system, one of the most destructive short-range weapons in Moscow’s arsenal.
Discuss this article:
-65aa0c95730d1e0e3dce2f347c57fb90.jpg "Russian leader Vladimir Putin presents a state award to Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion during a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, September 22, 2016. (Source: Getty Images)")
