HIMARS destroyed a battalion of Russian Msta-S

Ukrainian artillerymen used the GMLRS guided missiles to destroy a battalion of Russian self-propelled howitzers in the Donetsk region. The video capturing the damage was published on social media. The Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance unit discovered the positions of a battalion of two Russian Msta-S self-propelled howitzers firing at the Ukrainian military in the Donetsk region.

With the help of coordinated actions, the battalion's fire was quickly suppressed. The published video shows two direct hits on Russian self-propelled howitzers. It captured the aerial detonation and damage to a large area by ready striking elements, which are characteristic of GMLRS M30A1 missiles.

Judging by the fact that both munitions were directly hit and considering the destructive power of ready striking elements of M30A1 missiles, it can be concluded that the self-propelled howitzers and their crews were destroyed. It was possible to geolocate the site where the Russian self-propelled howitzers were hit.

It is located in the occupied part of the Donetsk region, namely the outskirts of the village of Yalynske, Volnovakha district.

The site of the defeat of a battalion of Russian self-propelled howitzers, June 2023. Photo credits: DeepState map.

Last month, a Ukrainian HIMARS rocket system crew destroyed a Russian Buk-M1 SAM system launcher in the Donetsk region. The aerial reconnaissance unit of the 45th Artillery Brigade discovered a Russian launcher during a reconnaissance flight near Popasna, Donetsk region.

Upon recognition of the target, its coordinates were transferred to the crew of the HIMARS rocket system, which inflicted fire damage.

Russian Buk-M1 SAM system in position before destruction, May 2023. Photo credits: 45th Artillery Brigade

Msta-S is a Soviet and Russian 152-mm self-propelled howitzer designed to defeat open and hidden manpower, weapons, and military equipment of the enemy. The 2S19 artillery unit is placed on a deeply modified chassis of the T-72 tank.

Its design integrated the components and units of the T-80 tank chassis. The body of the ACS has retained the tank reservation, but the turret is protected only from light small arms.

2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Photo from open sources.

The ammunition of the self-propelled howitzer includes 50 rounds with high-explosive shells, Krasnopol laser-guided projectiles, radio-jamming projectiles, etc.

The firing range of this self-propelled howitzer with a 2A64 cannon with conventional shells is 24 km, but it can be increased to 29 kilometers in the case of using a rocket-assisted projectile.