- Статьи
- Army
- To manage in 20 minutes: how artillery destroys the enemy in the South Donetsk direction
To manage in 20 minutes: how artillery destroys the enemy in the South Donetsk direction
The battles for Ugledar changed a lot of things for the southern Donetsk region: after its liberation, the enemy "sat down" and began to defend less fiercely. Our troops, on the contrary, have become more combative, especially as the inexorable advance of the Russian army continues. The Izvestiya correspondent talked to the direct participants of the battles in the southeast of the SVO zone - the Msta-S SAU unit representing the Vostok group of troops.
"The Motherland must be defended."
It is enough for an experienced fighter to listen to the artillery cannonade on the line of contact to understand the intensity of the fighting. Now it is loud in the South Donetsk direction, but not so long ago there were periods when the guns were silent around the clock and the intensity of fire was much higher.
A senior officer of an artillery battery with the call sign Bratsk recalls: when his men were working on enemy positions near Ugledar, sometimes they did not even have time to eat.
- They were always on the move. We carried out combat missions practically around the clock," says the commander.
The enemy was stubborn and fiercely hunted the artillerymen.
- It's not so intense now, but it still interferes with our work," he smiles. - Mostly kamikaze drones or drones like Baba Yaga try to get us. Sometimes they use cluster munitions, and sometimes they use Humvees. But not so long ago it was on a much larger scale.
Talking about his combat work, the commander notes that in combat it is important to adhere to a certain algorithm of actions. And the Msta-S crew tries not to violate it.
- A task is received from the control center and a target is assigned," Bratsk explained. - I start to find out its nature, its range, make a decision on what shells to fire at it, and give the command to the gun commander to take position and start firing.
The Msta-S SAU is a Soviet and Russian 152-millimeter division self-propelled howitzer. It was developed from 1976 to 1989. It is designed to destroy tactical nuclear weapons, artillery and mortar batteries, tanks and other armored vehicles, anti-tank vehicles, manpower, air and missile defense, as well as to destroy field fortifications. It can fire at observed and unobserved targets by direct fire or from closed positions. Another feature of the SAU is that it is designed for combat operations in mountainous areas.
SAU crews change their positions frequently.
- We don't stay in one position for more than 20 minutes," he emphasizes. - If it takes longer, there is a danger of being hit by the enemy. In general, we try to work quickly and, of course, not to the detriment of quality.
Bratsk notes that the atmosphere in the team is important to him as a commander, and his battery is doing well.
- The guys live like a family," Bratsk said proudly. - My guys are great, my team is friendly. We have been fighting together since April 2023.
He himself joined the SVO with the rank of private.
- In a year and a half, he became an officer," he said.
The commander told us that in civilian life he worked as a surveyor. He worked on a rotational basis and traveled almost all over Russia. When the special operation began, it turned out that many relatives, relatives and friends went to the SVO. Bratsk could not stay away and soon signed a contract.
Now his subordinate SAU crews continue their combat work in the South Donetsk direction.
- There is always fear. There are no people who are not afraid of anything, - concludes the artilleryman. - But you try to drive away bad thoughts. The homeland must be defended.
"One of the best in this business."
A senior gunner with the call sign Ahmet said that the Msta-S is now destroying enemy strongholds, concentrations of manpower and equipment.
- Our gun is very accurate. If not from the second, then from the third shot it hits the target absolutely accurately," the fighter said.
According to him, the crew is now permanently in the waiting area.
- It's about 15 minutes from the firing position," he said. - We get a combat mission, throw in our ammunition and move out. Targeting takes four to five minutes. My job is to aim accurately," Ahmet said.
Ahmet admitted he didn't become a gunner right away.
- But about a year and a half ago, I had a small career development, so to speak," the soldier says. - I went from being a gunner to a gunner. As commanders say, now I am one of the best in this business.
As it turned out, he himself is from Southern Siberia, and to be exact - from Khakassia.
- I signed the contract while still on compulsory service," he becomes serious. - My uncle died. That became one of my motives. And in general, I was brought up that way. My father is an ataman of the Cossack army. And the fact that the Motherland must be protected, he instilled in me from a small age.
"Theenemy had more shellsback then."
A gun commander with the call sign Kutya says the machine the crew is fighting on is excellent, especially, as he notes, in this modification.
- The enemy is now snapping back less. Not compared to what happened near Ugledar, for example," Kutya recalled. - There was very intensive work there. . At times, they didn't sleep for 24 hours, helping our attackers. And now there is a feeling that the enemy had more shells then. Now it is noticeable that they work only on the front.
Of course, it happens that drones still reach the artillerymen.
- We have a defense against them. We make our own anti-drone nets and weld them onto the hull," explains Kutya.
He recalled how he overcame his fear of death.
- After I survived my first flight, the fear went away on its own," the commander said. - It happened on the third day after my arrival in the special operation zone. In the Kherson region, we went to the positions, fired three shots, and we were hit. I was the gunner at the time. I didn't even realize it right away. I heard the bursts and the commander quickly instructed the driver mechanic to leave the position.
The crew moved away to a safe distance and almost immediately a shell landed on the place where the SAU was standing.
- Later, when I remembered it all, I was shaking a little," Kutya admits. - Just a little bit more and we could have died. It's all right, I've digested it. We'll fight until victory. We are advancing, all the guys are in good spirits.
Kutya came here in 2022 from Ulan-Ude.
- Previously he served under contract, in the artillery. I had already signed a contract last year," he recalled. - At first there was a certain sense of uncertainty. But then I got involved, the combat routine came, and everything somehow went its way. My wife, child and parents are waiting for me at home. I keep in touch with them.
Toward the end of the conversation, a loader with the call sign Borzyi joins us - his duties include feeding shells and controlling ammunition.
- We work on strongholds, trenches - in general, on the enemy's manpower, - he explained. - In addition, we hit equipment concentrations. This is my second year in the SVO, I participated in the storming of Ugledar and other settlements.
Remembering his civilian life and his native land, he answers the question why he decided to take part in the special operation.
- What we do is our job," he says. - We are military men, and our duty is to protect our homeland. For those who are thinking about whether to come here or not, I would say: you should go.
