During a counteroffensive operation in the Kharkiv sector, Ukrainian paratroopers from the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade captured russian 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer. The trophy artillery piece has since been restored and turned against its former owners on the battlefield.
The Brigade published footage of the captured weapon in action, underscoring how Ukrainian defenders are making effective use of seized russian equipment. According to the unit, the Msta-S system was quickly integrated into Ukrainian artillery forces after a thorough overhaul by the paratroopers themselves.
Read more: Ukraine Targets russian Forces in Crimea after Independence Day
The 2S19 Msta-S is a 152 mm self-propelled howitzer introduced into Soviet service in 1989 and publicly unveiled in 1992. Designed to deliver long-range, high-volume fire support, it remains a staple of russian artillery units today. Its modernized fire control and mobility make it a formidable weapon in Moscow's arsenal.
Despite this, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly demonstrated the ability not only to destroy but also to capture and repurpose russian weapons. In this case, the paratroopers fully disassembled, studied, and restored captured Msta-S system. Just a month and a half after its recovery, the howitzer was deployed to fire missions near Kreminna, now serving Ukrainian objectives.
The gun crew is composed of soldiers from across Ukraine, including Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Cherkasy regions. Their shared effort highlights the unity of Ukrainians from different corners of the country in fighting for the same cause: the destruction of the occupiers and the liberation of national territory.
The use of captured weapons also reflects the resourcefulness and adaptability of Ukrainian troops. Every restored system reduces the burden on Ukraine's logistics and increases the firepower available at the front, while simultaneously depriving russia of valuable equipment.
Turning the Msta-S system against its previous operators carries strong symbolic weight as well. It demonstrates how russian aggression is ultimately backfiring, with the very weapons meant to suppress Ukraine instead helping to defend its sovereignty and reclaim occupied land.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian defenders have successfully eliminated rare russian remote mining system in the Zaporizhzhia direction, dealing another blow to Moscow's engineering capabilities on the battlefield. The announcement was made on August 26 by Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr Pivnenko.
Read more: Ukrainian Forces Destroy Rare russian Zemledeliye Remote Mining System in the Zaporizhzhia Sector
