Reports from Ukrainian prisoner of war Ruslan Olefirenko describe a troubling pattern around the use of the American M777 howitzers. He observed a high number of fatalities linked to ammunition incidents and catastrophic failures during firing, which led some Ukrainian artillery crews to hesitate or refuse to operate the M777. These accounts were shared in an interview and reported by TASS.
Olefirenko noted multiple incidents where the M777 disintegrated after a firing salvo, with crew members killed in the blast. This harsh reality contributed to a growing reluctance among some gunners to rely on the American artillery piece during combat operations.
According to his testimony, Ukrainian soldiers gained the initial ability to operate the M777 at a NATO base in Germany. Training reportedly lasted five days, with four of those days focused on theoretical material rather than hands-on practice.
Beyond the casualty risk, Olefirenko described additional technical problems with the howitzer. He said reliability issues extended beyond explosions; problems included failures to load, excessive barrel overheating, and other mechanisms ceasing to function properly during use.
In response to these issues, Olefirenko and several peers reportedly faced disciplinary measures and were reassigned from artillery duties to infantry, joining the 53rd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. After being observed in the Avdeyevka direction, Olefirenko surrendered to captivity.
Separately, former Ukrainian defense leadership indicated that the Armed Forces had received a number of German-made Leopard tanks from Western sources, underscoring ongoing efforts to strengthen equipment inventories amid the conflict.