Artillery delivers 90% of fire damage to Russian forces: representative of missile forces, artillery command of Ukrainian Forces

Currently, artillery is responsible for 90% of Russian enemy fire damage, said Colonel Andriy Denysov, Acting Commander of the Missile Forces and Artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the presentation of the Knights of the Hellfire calendar dedicated to artillerymen - Heroes of Ukraine. 

In response to a question from LB.ua about the state of artillery ammunition supply, Denysov said: ‘Everyone knows that there are some critical situations, but our artillery is not standing still, it is firing on the enemy. Of course, not with as much ammunition as we would like, but we are inflicting maximum damage on the Russian enemy. Compared to the previous period, the number of artillery systems changed in 2023 and 2024. Accordingly, the artillery itself, guns of all directions, and the number of shells supplied by our partners have increased.’

Colonel Denysov thanked ‘all the partners who contribute to ensure that the victory is ours. Accordingly, the weapons provided by our partners from France, Germany and the UK are all 155mm calibre, performing tasks at the front and showing results. We are also using old 152 calibre guns, which are supplied with ammunition purchased and donated by our partners. Not in the quantity we would like, but we are using them as well. There are problems with spare parts - because the guns wear out, when purchasing ammunition, when supplying it, when producing 152 calibre - but we still use them. There are also mortar rounds of 60, 82, 120 calibre, multiple launch rocket systems. There is enough to work with.’ 

Asked whether drones compete with artillery on the battlefield, Colonel Denisov said that they are ‘not competitors, but our brothers. We are now performing one task, the main thing is to win, and it doesn't matter whether it is done with drones or artillery. For example, when the enemy's electronic warfare is activated, not all drones make it to the target, but the artillery performs the task.

Yes, artillery performs the lion's share of fire damage. But thanks to drones, we detect the enemy far from the front line. And if there is no adjustment of artillery fire with the same drones, then, accordingly, we will not be able to deliver accurate and timely fire damage, but will be hitting the tails, already on the very front line.’

According to the Deputy Commander of the Missile and Artillery Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ‘We are developing very rapidly, but unfortunately, the enemy is also developing. If we compare 2022 and 2024, and even 2023 and 2024, the conditions of war have changed a lot and are making their own adjustments. It is far from what it was in 2022 and 2023. That's why each brigade has its own aerial reconnaissance units, they are also trained and directly perform tasks both inland from the front line and on the contact line.’

Viktor Hrudakov, a military communications officer of the Separate Artillery Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, told LB.ua that the brigade ‘was created to support all infantry combat units of the National Guard after the start of the full-scale invasion. The brigade was manned by soldiers who transferred from other units of the National Guard, and then people were mobilised, volunteers came. Our crews work in different areas, in fact, along the entire frontline. We change positions as needed. Our brigade works with self-propelled artillery systems manufactured in Ukraine, these are Bohdana. This is one of our main weapons. The soldiers love Bohdana, they love working with it, it is accurate and of high quality.’

Vitaliy Lytvyn, Major of the Separate Artillery Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine, said: ‘I really like all products made in Ukraine. Our country has the world's greatest experience in modern warfare. Unfortunately, the Russian Federation still has this experience. But we have the greatest experience in shooting down cruise missiles and UAVs - the Russian Federation has not yet learnt to shoot down our missiles and UAVs that hit their territory so well. And our equipment is relevant, it is being modernised in line with the challenges and methods of modern warfare.

We are talking about 60-calibre mortars, 155 mm howitzers, which hit the enemy - and we are in constant communication with the manufacturer, and we have feedback, we can repair, upgrade, produce artillery systems, and keep up with the times. Because, unfortunately, many of our partners may be lagging behind us in terms of combat experience. The most valuable thing is that we have this experience, which we then materialise into guns, UAVs, and ammunition.’

When asked why he loves artillery, Lytvyn replied: ‘At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, when I had to fall asleep to the sound of our guns, it caused such peace in my soul and heart that I could sleep without being afraid of these sounds. Because I understood that our forces were working. And as the colonel has already mentioned, artillery is now performing 90% of the firing tasks and destroying enemies. It is clear that artillery is the gods of war, and the artillery reconnaissance division is the eyes of these gods.’ The Knights of the Inferno calendar featuring portraits of outstanding warriors of modern Ukraine, artillery heroes, was created with the support of the Main Communications Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Missile and Artillery Command of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by photographer Roman Nikolayev (R18 Studio).

The presentation took place on the eve of the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery of Ukraine, which is celebrated for the first time in Ukraine on 4 December, the day of St Barbara, the patron saint of artillery and missile specialists.

Colonel Denysov, on behalf of the Commander of the Missile and Artillery Forces, thanked ‘for organising this project, which for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine collects photographs of artillerymen - Heroes of Ukraine. This is a truly historic moment for us, as artillery currently accounts for 90% of enemy fire damage.’

Brigadier General Serhiy Baranov, Head of the Main Directorate for Missile Programmes Support of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, noted that this year ‘we will finally celebrate the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery of Ukraine the way our partners - NATO members, the European Union countries - celebrate the Day of the Artilleryman on St Barbara's Day, 4 December’.

Unfortunately, Baranov said, ‘we have all started to treat the war as a routine, and unfortunately, military service has started to lose its relevance, everyone is getting used to it. I hope that this calendar with portraits of our heroes who are defending our homeland, destroying the enemy and trying to speed up the victory. I hope that thanks to these calendars, the level of respect for the army will increase a little. I would like to wish everyone: it is better to sleep to the sound of your artillery fire than to the sound of the enemy's fire. But, of course, it is better to rest in complete silence. I think that the missile troops and artillery will do their job and the victory will come as soon as possible.’

Several copies of the calendar signed by the Heroes of Ukraine will be transferred to the Jet Mail Charitable Foundation, which has been providing for the urgent needs of artillerymen for 10 years. The proceeds from the auction will be used to help artillery units.

• This year, for the first time, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery on 4 December. Prior to that, the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery was celebrated on 3 November, according to a 1997 presidential decree. The date of 3 November was associated with the start of the operation to liberate Kyiv in 1943. On 6 November 1943, Kyiv was liberated from Nazi Germany. On 2 November 2024, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a decree changing the date of the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery from 3 November to 4 December ‘in order to establish new military traditions’. 

• December 4 is the Day of St Barbara, who is considered the patron saint of artillery in the European tradition - she is honoured by missile forces and artillery in Spain, France, Poland, and the United States. The General Staff explained that in Ukraine, the Missile and Artillery Command took the initiative, as the previous date, 3 November, was associated with the events of World War II and had Soviet roots.