KYIV: A year ago, commander Volodymyr and his soldiers were firing all 40 barrels of their BM-21 Grad rocket launcher in one go. Now they can afford to fire a few at a time at Russian targets. Zelensky now says, “We haven’t got enough ammunition for our weapon.”
His unit, the 17th Tank Battalion, is still being called on to provide fire support to Ukrainian troops desperately clinging to the edges of Bakhmut, the eastern Ukrainian city Russia has spent months trying to capture. Russian forces are approaching their goal of taking the city but at an enormous cost.
While we are waiting in a line of trees, hidden from view, Volodymyr receives a call to fire his rocket launcher at a Russian mortar position about 15 kilometres away.
His person removes the branches camouflaging their vehicle. They drive towards the empty field about a kilometre away and quickly work out the range.
They elevate the rocket barrels towards the hit while, out of sight, a Ukrainian drone hovering above assesses their accuracy.
They were told their first rocket missed by about 50 metres, so they adjusted the elevation, fired another two, and quickly returned to the trees for cover. This time they were told they’d hit the target.
Volodymyr is frustrated that they can’t do more. “We could’ve provided more support to our dying guys.”
Grad ammunition stocks
He said Ukraine has already burned through its Grad ammunition stocks, so it relies on rockets sourced from other countries. Volodymyr says supplies are coming from the Czech Republic, Romania and Pakistan. He complains that the rockets from Pakistan are “not of a good quality”.
Ukraine’s call for more ammunition and arms has become louder the longer the war. The focus is preparing for a major offensive. But at the same time, Ukraine still has to expend considerable resources to maintain its position.
Despite the recent arrival of modern ammunition like tanks and armoured, Ukraine remains heavily reliant on its older, Soviet-era arsenal.
The Russian-made Buk air defence system, which can hit missiles and aircraft drones, is still one of its prized possessions. We get rare access to see one further along the front line hidden in a wooded area.
This sophisticated weaponry has helped prevent Russia from gaining control of the skies.
Josef, the Buk commander, says it’s “hit number one for Russia”. This explains the extreme care taken to save it. The vehicle with its radar dome is buried in a deep trench covered with camouflage netting. On top are two grey missiles. It usually carries four.
