Ukrainian Defence Forces are using Finnish Giatsint-B field guns

13 April, 2023 Finnish gun 2A36 Giatsint-B gun in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, April 2023 Ukrainian gunners received the Giatsint-B guns, which were previously in service with Finland. Ukraine Weapons Tracker analytical team reported this.

The first shots from the Finnish 2A36 Giatsint-B 152mm towed guns in the ranks of the Armed Forces were published online. The transfer of these weapons was previously not reported. The exact number of artillery systems transferred is unknown.

However, the Finnish Armed Forces had 24 guns of this type in service under the local index 152K89. A small number of Giatsint-B guns remain in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Ukrainian military used these guns in defense against the invasion. Nevertheless, already at the end of the summer 2022, the use of these guns was limited due to a serious shortage of specific ammunition. The arrival of these artillery systems can almost certainly mean the transfer of large batches of 152mm ammunition to these guns from the Finnish army reserves.

This can be indirectly judged by the recent spike of videos and photos featuring the use of Giatsint-B guns. The origin of the received guns can be precisely verified by the green and black camouflage that is applied to the equipment of the Finnish Armed Forces.

A freeze frame of the gun on the left and a comparative photo of the Finnish gun on the right

Along with the 2A36 Giatsint-B towed guns, Finland also has the self-propelled version the 2S5 Giatsint-S, better known as Telak 91, in service. According to open sources, 18 self-propelled guns were in the Finnish army.

2A36 Giatsint-B

Giatsint-B is a 152mm towed gun developed in the Soviet Union in 1975.

It is in service with the armed forces of the post-Soviet states and the Finnish Armed Forces. Despite the same caliber as other Soviet-style howitzers, other higher-power ammunition with a longer case length is used for Giatsint. Thanks to it and the 53 caliber barrel length, the gun received much better ballistics and a maximum fire range of up to 33 kilometers.

Additionally, a special munition with a limited-yield tactical nuclear charge was developed in the Soviet army for this gun.

The gun's crew consists of 8 people.