The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video documenting the combat use of the 152-mm towed D-20 howitzers operated by VDV crews in the zone of special military operations. The footage was officially published through the ministry’s telegraph channel.
The clip shows a howitzer positioned amid forested terrain as it engages targets. The acting commander of the artillery battery, Grigory, explains that the enemy is consistently withdrawing, yet the weapon’s range enables accurate fire from the front line as well as from behind enemy lines.
We operate with deliberate precision, delivering accurate fire without the need for adjustments. This artillery piece has a maximum range of just over 17 kilometers, and with a specialized projectile, the range can extend to around 20 kilometers. This reach is more than sufficient to target threats from the front or from a simulated flank behind enemy positions, according to the commander.
The report notes that air force artillery continues to fulfill its mission of neutralizing the opponent’s firepower, weaponry, and military equipment, while also destroying defensive structures and suppressing enemy command points.
The Russian Ministry of Defense asserts that during counterbattery operations, airborne artillery successfully neutralized a large number of launch rocket systems and enemy mortar crews, along with other targets. The coordinates for these targets were provided by reconnaissance and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
According to the military department, D-20 gun crews include personnel who have been recalled from reserve as part of the partial mobilization process.
Earlier reports indicated that the Russian armed forces destroyed positions of AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces using barrel artillery.
Attribution: Official communications from the Russian Ministry of Defense and related military briefings in the public briefings channel.