In another successful operation by Ukraine's elite airborne forces, pilots of the 132nd Reconnaissance Battalion of the Air Assault Forces located and destroyed concealed russian self-propelled artillery piece. The strike was captured on video and shared publicly on July 26, offering a glimpse into the high-stakes frontline engagements taking place daily in Ukraine's defense.
The target was the 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, a Soviet-era 122 mm artillery system widely used by russian forces. The vehicle was hidden in shrubbery, likely in an attempt to evade aerial reconnaissance and artillery targeting. However, Ukrainian forces managed to detect it through aerial surveillance.
Read more: How Ukraine Plans to Upgrade the Bohdana-BG Towed Howitzer After Battlefield Deployment
Once located, Ukrainian artillery began striking the position. The initial artillery barrage appears to have startled russian crew, prompting an attempted escape. However, the attempt to flee only hastened the system's destruction.
Realizing the enemy vehicle was on the move, Ukrainian drone operators took over the operation. Several FPV drones targeted and struck the fleeing Gvozdika system with precision, ultimately igniting the vehicle and rendering it completely inoperable.
The destruction of the 2S1 Gvozdika howitzer highlights both the increasing vulnerability of russian artillery systems and the growing integration of drones into Ukrainian combined-arms tactics. As russia continues to rely on older Soviet-era equipment, Ukraine's drone units are proving effective at exploiting their weaknesses, even when the systems are camouflaged or mobile.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian border guards from the Phoenix unit have carried out a successful strike against russian drone forces in Donetsk region, targeting enemy positions near the city of Kostyantynivka. According to the unit, the operation resulted in the destruction of russian drone command post, several FPV ambush sites, and two Mavic-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
The strike is described by the unit as hitting a "truly valuable" target, given the growing importance of drone warfare along the front line. The destroyed drone command post had been used by russian forces to coordinate operations involving FPV drones, a category of loitering munitions frequently deployed for precision strikes and reconnaissance.
Read more: Ukraine's Air Assault Forces Hunt Down Hidden russian 2S1 Gvozdika SPG
