Things Keep Getting Worse for Russia in Ukraine: Watch Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian BMP-2 With Drone-Corrected Artillery Fire – Video footage shared by Ukraine’s 406th Artillery Brigade this week offered a glimpse into the counter-offensive taking place in Kherson Oblast, showing the immense destruction caused by drone-corrected artillery fire directed at Russian military bases.
In the clip, which was shared by several prominent English-language war tracking accounts, several scenes show Russian military equipment being destroyed by Ukrainian fire. Much of the footage appears to have been recorded by rotary blade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“In Arkhanhelske, #Kherson Oblast, drone-corrected 155mm artillery fire from an M777 Howitzer was used by the Ukrainian 406th Artillery brigade to destroy a Russian BMP-2 IFV, at least one transport truck, and ammunition,” Ukraine Weapons Tracker writes in a post.
The footage shows a Russian ammunition depot being struck by artillery fire in the region- a crippling blow to the Russian military at a time when its troops need all the ammunition they can get.
Twitter users also shared the exact location of the strike, confirming that among the recent targets of the Ukrainian military was a quarry located in Arkhanhelske, Kherson Oblast. The Russian military appeared to have been using the quarry to store weapons, ammunition, and vehicles.
#Ukraine: In Arkhanhelske, #Kherson Oblast, drone-corrected 155mm artillery fire from an M777 Howitzer was used by the Ukrainian 406th Artillery brigade to destroy a Russian BMP-2 IFV, at least one transport truck, and ammunition. pic.twitter.com/bHB0XsE7lL
— ?? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) September 11, 2022
It’s not the first time that the same depot has been targeted by the Ukrainian military, however. Video footage shared in June and July showed the depot being hit by artillery fire from the 17th Tank Brigade.
“Топорная” работа #всу по вражескому штабу, корректировка с “мавика” https://t.co/3vj9s5CoVQ #RussianUkrainianWar pic.twitter.com/3DETpLayN6
— Necro Mancer (@666_mancer) June 29, 2022
What Is Drone-Corrected Artillery Fire Doing in Ukraine?
Drones have formed a vital part of Ukraine’s defense throughout the Russian invasion, not only assisting with reconnaissance and launching drone strikes on enemy positions but also helping improve the accuracy of artillery strikes.
Whenever an artillery round is fired at a target, there is a “circular error probable” or CEP which is measured in tens of meters. It is within this circular space that the artillery round will land, creating the possibility that the strike may miss the intended target.
With a 155mm weapon, which was used in the clip shared this week, that means the artillery would land within a 25-meter space when fired at a distance of 15 miles. A drone-adjusted fire allows the gunmen to improve their accuracy by first launching an initial round and then using drones equipped with cameras to see where the first round landed.
US Military M777 Artillery. Ukraine Now Has a Similar System.
This information allows the gunmen to launch additional strikes and adjust their aim slightly, ensuring that the second, third, or fourth round strikes the intended target.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
