The Russian military has apparently destroyed most of Kiev forces’ first Polish-made Krab self-propelled 155 mm howitzers.
On April 22, video footage surfaced online showing a completely destroyed Ukrainian Krab howitzer and its ammunition vehicle. The footage was reportedly taken near the Seversk front, in the outskirts of the village of Zvanivka in the Donetsk region.
This was the eleventh confirmed destruction of a Krab howitzer in Ukraine. At least two others were documented to have been damaged.
Thus, Kiev forces have lost most of the first 18 Krabs it received directly from Polish military stocks last May, some three months after the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
The Krab was developed by Poland’s weapons manufacturer Huta Stalowa Wola. The howitzer combines the South Korean K9 Thunder chassis with a British BAE Systems AS-90M Braveheart turret with French Nexter Systems 52-calibre long gun and Polish WB Electronics’ Topaz artillery fire control system.
The howitzer can fire up to six shells per minute. It has a maximum firing range of 30 kilometers with regular shells, and up to 50 kilometers with American-made M982 Excalibur precision-guided rounds.
Last June, it was announced that Ukraine had placed an order for an additional 60 Krabs for $700 million. However, it is still unknown if any of these howitzers have been delivered to Kiev forces.
Ukraine has so far received more than 800 artillery systems, including mortars, howitzers and multiple rocket systems, from its allies. Many of these systems have been already damaged, destroyed or even captured by the Russian military. Precision-guided munitions like the 2K25 Krasnopol 153 mm artillery rounds and Lancet loitering munitions are playing a key role in neutralizing the artillery of Kiev forces.