Ukrainian Drones Hunt Down and Destroy Massive Russian 2S4 Tyulpan Mortar, Video

Ukrainian drone operators have tracked down and destroyed one of Russia’s most powerful artillery systems, targeting a rare 240mm self-propelled mortar on the battlefield, according to footage released by the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade on April 30.

The strike was carried out by the Sirius unmanned systems battalion, which identified and hit a 2S4 Tyulpan—a high-value asset known for its extreme destructive capability.

The 2S4 Tyulpan is one of the heaviest artillery systems still in service, designed to destroy fortified positions that conventional artillery often struggles to penetrate. Its massive 240mm mortar fires projectiles in steep arcs, allowing it to strike targets from above—where defenses are typically weakest.

Because of its size and firepower, the system is considered a prized target. Ukrainian troops referred to it as a “high-value” asset, noting both its cost and battlefield impact.

In a remark accompanying the strike, the unit added a touch of irony: “season of tulips” for Russian forces “ended quickly.”

Originally developed in the late Soviet period, the Tyulpan remains the largest-caliber mortar in active use. It fires extremely heavy munitions, with standard high-explosive rounds weighing around 130 kilograms, while rocket-assisted variants can exceed 220 kilograms.

The system is capable of launching specialized munitions, including precision-guided rounds, and was designed to eliminate hardened targets such as bunkers, reinforced structures, and positions shielded by terrain.

However, despite its firepower, the Tyulpan has significant vulnerabilities. Its large size, slow rate of fire—typically about one round per minute—and lengthy deployment time make it highly exposed to modern countermeasures, particularly drone reconnaissance and strikes.

Earlier, Ukraine’s “Achilles” brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces struck a Russian Nebo-M radar system located approximately 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

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