DONETSK, June 6 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. Near Donetsk, where the front line has hardly changed for several years, now everything is different. The APU is using the "novelties" from Washington with might and main. About the situation in one of the most important areas of the battle for Donbass — in the RIA Novosti report.
Overseas howitzers
The capital of the DPR is constantly being shelled. Locals say: this has not happened since 2014. Previously, they were beaten on the outskirts — Kirovsky, Kievsky, Petrovsky and Kuibyshev districts, closest to the positions of Ukrainian gunners near Avdiivka and Peski. Now shells are exploding in the city center — in Voroshilovsky, where the main government buildings are, and even in Budyonnovsky in the southeast. That is, in the deep rear.
Two schools, private houses, and an indoor market were hit. More than a dozen dead civilians, including a five-year-old girl.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are armed with howitzers "Carnation", "Acacia", D-30 and others. The range is relatively small, rocket shells will only reach the center. It was with them that the APU covered the Voroshilovsky district on Saturday, damaging several houses and injuring a dozen and a half people. Miraculously, no one died.
Investigators claim that in some cases, 155-millimeter high-explosive shells — standard ammunition of NATO guns - were fired at the center. The SS men delivered American towed M777 howitzers to the positions, which were immediately given the nickname "three axes".
The DPR army, however, has found a way to effectively combat the new threat.
Positions of the gunners of the 9th regiment of the DPR army east of Yasinovataya
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz
Close the range
Forest plantations along highways are a rare element of the landscape, usually endless Donetsk fields stretch around. However, one of the country roads is buried in greenery. Tall trees close over the crown primer, reliably blocking passing cars from the cameras of the ubiquitous Ukrainian drones. Here you can move around in relative safety. On the edge of the forest belt in front of a wide field is a battery of howitzers of the 9th separate regiment of the DPR army.
Towed guns 2A36 "Hyacinth-B", developed in the early 1970s, rarely get into TV reports about military exercises and parades. In Russia, they have not yet been officially decommissioned, but most of them were in conservation. Unpacked after learning about the M777 shipments.
"The cannon was designed specifically for counter-battery warfare. In other words, to suppress enemy artillery positions," explains the commander of the artillery division. — "Three Axes" are significantly inferior to us in range. High-explosive fragmentation is beaten at 24 kilometers, active-reactive — at 30. "Hyacinth" — at 28.5 and 33.5, respectively. The M777, of course, has Excalibur guided missiles flying at all 40. But the APU has few of these. Very expensive."
Positions of the gunners of the 9th regiment of the DPR army east of Yasinovataya
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz
Fifteen minutes
According to the gunners, "Hyacinths" seriously battered the Ukrainian troops near Donetsk in a few days. They destroyed several guns with precise hits, without fear of retaliation. Howitzers don't even change positions after work.
However, you should not relax. Ukrainian multiple launch rocket systems "Hurricane" are still able to cover the battery. The standard for the transfer of "Hyacinth" from a combat position to a marching position is about 15 minutes. The military is managed in seven to ten. Otherwise it is impossible.
The APU has American radars for AN/TPQ counter-battery warfare, detecting a projectile in the air and calculating the location of the salvo along the flight path. The coordinates are immediately transmitted to the gunners. It takes just 15 minutes to do this.
Positions of the gunners of the 9th regiment of the DPR army east of Yasinovataya
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz
Intelligence reports: "Hurricanes" are not visible today. Therefore, the Hyacinths remain in place and continue to fire. A few minutes later, the commander's radio wheezes: "Two pieces of equipment have been destroyed." They beat 2A36 so deafeningly that hearing disappears for a while, it rings in my head.
"We have already got used to it, although at first we were also stunned," laughs an artillery officer of the 9th regiment with the call sign Paw. — The main thing is to open your mouth at the moment of the shot, so that the eardrums do not burst. We managed to fight in Zaporozhye, I served there on a towed D-30 howitzer, which is quieter. The range is only 15 kilometers. That's when the answer came a lot and often. Ukrainian drones constantly buzzed in the air, correcting the fire. When it got really hot, they jumped into cars and quickly left, leaving the guns."
The military emphasize that the Russian strike drone "Pacer" helps to fight artillery. One "bird" is enough to clear a significant section of the front from enemy guns in just four days. It's just a pity that there are not enough of these systems in the Donbas yet.
Positions of the gunners of the 9th regiment of the DPR army east of Yasinovataya
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz
Raising rates
The other day, Washington reported that they would send Ukraine another aid package. Including HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems — weapons more serious than howitzers. The range (depends on the projectile) is 32-70 kilometers. And if ATACMS tactical ammunition is used, then up to 300. The military recognizes the danger of these systems for the cities of Donbass. But they do not consider it a panacea for the APU.
"They have enough MLRS with a comparable range — "Grads", "Hurricanes", "Tornadoes". They do not give a special advantage," explains an officer of the DPR army with the call sign Klim. — American missiles are more dangerous. On the other hand, both our and Russian anti-aircraft gunners have a wealth of experience in dealing with "Dots-U", similar in principle of action. Under the Raisins alone, several pieces were knocked down daily."
Positions of the gunners of the 9th regiment of the DPR army east of Yasinovataya
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz
In the LPR, Allied troops have almost liberated Severodonetsk and are advancing towards Lisichansk. This will allow us to reach the borders of the Luhansk region. In the DPR, the army broke through the Svetlodarsk arc, advancing on Bakhmut, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. The battle for Donbass is entering a decisive phase.
