How artillerymen of the 147th Artillery Brigade fight using Ukraine's Bohdana-BH
Ukrainska Pravda
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The Bohdana self-propelled artillery system is one of the flagships of Ukraine's defence industry. It is a large 155mm gun mounted on alorry, enablingits operatorsto strike the enemy precisely and quickly change position.
However, battlefield realities are evolving. Drones operating dozens of kilometres from the combat zone pose a threat to all large vehicles, so towed howitzers mounted on trailers are becoming increasingly relevant at the front. They are easier to camouflage andcanbetter withstand strikes from FPV drones.
Towed artillery has its own combat limitations, but it is currently a defining trend on the modern battlefield. That is why the manufacturer of the Bohdana self-propelled system, the Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant,hasdeveloped a towed version of its howitzer. It has been named the Bohdana-BH. The company's barrel production capabilities have enabled it to enter this new niche.
The Bohdana-BH has been carrying out combat missions within artillery units for a year now.
An Ukrainska Pravda journalist travelled to the newly formed 147th Separate Artillery Brigade of the 7th Air Assault Forces which is equipped with these guns. We explain how the Bohdana-BH has performed in combat.
A Bohdana-BH firing from a concealed position.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Heavy artillery for paratroopers
Wearrive atthe Pokrovsk front to see the towed Bohdana systems in action. This is where the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade is fighting, with one of its battalionsarmedwith these guns.
The brigade's first battalion was formedaroundFrench CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems. Later, the number of foreign guns increased.
To further strengthen its artillery capability, the 7th Air Assault Forces' commandprovided its artillery brigade withUkrainian-madetowed guns. Training and unit coordination lasted two months, after which the artillerymen, together with the newly delivered Bohdana-BH systems, were deployed to the east.
The Bohdana-BH gun crew during unit coordination.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
The towed Bohdana is almosttwo and a halftimes heavier than the British M777 howitzer commonly used by paratroopers. While a Humvee is sufficient to tow the M777, the Bohdana-BH is pulled by a standard KrAZ-6322 militarylorry. In some cases, an MT-LB tracked armoured transport vehicle is also used.
A tractor-trailer delivers the gun to a prepared firing position.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
The self-propelled artillery system measures 13.5 metres in travelling configuration, which is three metres longer than the M777 mentioned above.
The gun features a 52-calibre barrel, the same as the French CAESAR.On the other hand, the M777 has a 39-calibre barrel. Thelongerbarrel length improves accuracy due to thegreateracceleration of the projectile, although it also makes the system heavier and more conspicuous.
The maximum firing range of the towed Bohdana is 41 kilometres, with a minimum range of 4.7 km.
"This gun islikea sniper rifle"
The road to the Bohdana battalion's command posthas been battered by time and this year's winter. Our visit coincided with a period of mass snowmelt, turning the fields of Donbas into vast lakes and the roads into streams.
For several days, a thick fog had blanketed the area, significantly reducing enemy drone activity. This allowed us to reach the battalion's command post without incident.
On the way, in one of the villages, we spotted a ground-based robotic system, TerMIT, standing in the middle of the road. Soldiers were loading it with camouflage nets to deliver to the firing positions of our guns.
"How did you even get here?" the battalion's chief of staff Volodymyr(aka"John")asksas soon as we step inside. He immediately adds: "I drove in here over compacted snow, but now the road is gone. I've no idea how to get back through this mess."
The young officer joined the Air Assault Forces in 2023, immediately after graduating from the National Academy of Land Forces. He first served on Soviet-era 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled artillery systems, and later commanded a battery of GradMLRS.
The chief of staff of the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade's battalion, Volodymyr, monitors the effectiveness of his crews during coordination.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
It is this23-year-oldcaptain who is responsible for a battalion comprising three batteries, each equipped with four towed Bohdana guns.
Dozens of monitors at the battalion's command post display the situation along the contact zone, the locations of enemy drones, and the firing positions of the unit's artillery.
"In our system, we can see all our Bohdana guns, their traverse sectors or field of rotation and firing orientation. As soon as target coordinates come in, it helps us determine which gun willfire first. At the same time, a live feed from our drone or adjacent units monitoring the target appears on the screens," John explains.
Dozens of live feeds of the contact zone are displayed at workstations.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
While we were talking, a Ukrainian UAV spotted a group of three Russian soldiers movingthrough woodlandtowards Ukrainian positions. The drone's live feed was immediately brought up on several monitors, and battery commanders received the order to engage.
The Russians heard the drone overhead and took cover in an abandoned dugout at a former artillery position.
Meanwhile, the battery commanders on the ground began preparing to engage the target. Commanders with the call signs "Bandyt" and "Kobra", after confirming that the sky above their guns was clear, switchedtheir focus entirelyto fire adjustment.
Battery commanders Kobra (centre) and Bandyt (left) observe enemy movement.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
As preparations for firing continued, John explained that it takes about six minutes from receiving target coordinates to the first Bohdana shot.
Although the gun's technical specifications allow for up to six rounds per minute, accuracy is now far more important than rate of fire in combat. After each shot, adjustments are made, so the guns typically fire one or two rounds per minute.
Bandyt points out the enemy's location.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
But even this rate of fire is sufficient. The firing begins. The first ranging shot lands in a field near the woodland, about 70 metres short of the target.
After fire correction byBandyt,within a minute a 155mm shell strikes directly onto the "roof" of the dugout. Following two more accurate hits, part of the shelter collapses.
One of the Russians, who just minutes earlier had been watching the Ukrainian drone fromhishidingplace, now lies motionless, having dropped his weapon. The battalion records another enemysoldier down.
After several precise strikes, the dugout with the occupiers is destroyed.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
"The design of the Bohdana is quite successful. This gun islikea sniper rifle. Its accuracy is very high. But achieving such results depends on the people as well.
We must be provided with accurate target coordinates, we must carry out allthecalculations, update meteorological data, adjust forthecharge temperature… In other words, everything has to be controlled from A to Z.
The gun commander on the ground must also correctly receive and relay the firing data. They must ensure the right type of shell and charge are used. The fuze must be set identically on each round. So to hit the target with the very first shot, an entiresetof measures is required," the chief of staff emphasises.
Despite the howitzer's advantages, themilitaryalso expects certain technical shortcomings to be addressed, as they affect firing range and, under certain conditions, limit the use of some types of ammunition.
The vast majority of gun crews consist of mobilised soldiers who had to learnartillery skills from scratch. For many of them, theircombat experience on the Pokrovsk front is their first.
There have already been cases in the battalion of direct hits with the very first shot. In one instance, a round was calculated to land just in front of an infantryman movingthrough woodland.
Footage of successful artillery operations is analysed and widely shared among crews to boost morale and strengthen confidence in their own capabilities.
Work on site anda strandedKrAZlorry
Meanwhile, at theirpositions, artillerymen are awaiting orders to begin engaging the next target.
The core crew of the Bohdana-BHconsists of the commander, gunner,loader and ammunitionhandler – these four ensure the system's firing capability.
The gun crew deploys the artillery piece into its firing position.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Upon receiving the command "Action stations" from the battery commander, the gun commander orders the crew to prepare for combat. The crew then rushes out of cover and removes the gun's camouflage. Through the communications officer, the commander relays the target coordinates to the gunner, who sets the sight and deflection.
The gunner adjusts the weapon using a panoramic sight.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
On the gun commander's order, theloaderprepares the ammunition for firing. The type of shell is selected at the command post depending on the distance to the target and its characteristics. For instance, it may be a high-explosive fragmentation shell, a specialised round for mining enemy roads, or a long-range rocket-assisted projectile, etc.
The shell handler screws the fuze onto the shell.
Photo:147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Meanwhile, theammunitionhandler selects the propellant charge, which determines the gun's firing range. Unlike Soviet-era systems, the Bohdan usesbagpropellant charges, that is, powder packed in cloth bags rather than metal casings.
A bag propellant charge for firing.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
"Air and charge temperature directly affect the accuracy and intensity of fire. In warm weather, after 5–7 rounds, the gun barrel begins to overheat, which leads to a loss of accuracy. In colder conditions, around 10 accurate shots can be fired.
When we need to strike a column or a large concentration of infantry, the guns fire in sequence. While the first gun is firing, we areaimingthe second and third onto the target. Then the one that started firing cools down, while the others continue. And so it goes in rotation," explains John.
Loading the gun with a shell and propellant charge.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
This is followed by fire adjustment. The fire control post relays the results of the previous shot, and the gunner, on the senior officer's command, adjusts the sight accordingly.
In addition, each gun is supported by a crew and a driver, who assist in setting up and dismantling the weapon, as well as preparing it for transport to another position.
The crew installs the gun's base plate, which stabilises its weight during firing.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
The closer to the contact zone, the greater the risk of encountering fibre-optic drones or other threats. As a result, each delivery of a gun to a firing position is planned as a full-scale special operation within the brigade.
The gun can be transported to and from positions safely only at night. However, even a powerful KrAZ struggles with the mud that local fields have turned into.
"Yesterday I received a call from the gun commander, who reported thataKrAZcarrying agun had got stuck on a dirt road. I set off in anotherlorrythat was delivering ammunition to that gun – and we got stuck nearby as well.
Because our vehicle was loaded, it managed to slowly pull itself out of the mud. We then recovered the first KrAZ and the gun. So just try to imagine the conditions our artillerymen have to work in every day," John told Ukrainska Pravda.
An artilleryman directs the delivery of the gun to the position.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
The Bohdana-BHis mounted on the carriage of a Soviet 2A36Giatsint-Btowed gun. Servicemen speak highly of this solution: the base withstands both firing andtransportvery well.
If a Russian FPV drone detonates near the carriage and disables two wheels on one side, the soldiers can swap in a wheel from theundamagedside and continue transporting the gun to a repair workshop without major difficulty.
The 2P22 Bohdana-BH gun mounted on the carriage of the Soviet 2A36 Giatsint-B.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Long before the Bohdanas arrived, troops had been preparing positions for them. This is essential – otherwise the systems would be quickly detected and destroyed. The situation was complicated by the extremely hard ground,andspecialised equipment could not approach under fire, so the soldiers did everything by hand.
Enemy drone strikes force troops to prepare gun positions manually.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
The guns are covered with five layers of camouflage and anti-drone netting. A protective frame is prepared even before the howitzer is delivered to the position and is then installed on site.
Work at the position takes place under difficult conditions. In winter, artillerymen suffered from the cold; now they take turns bailing water and mud out of their dugouts with buckets.
Russian forces constantly strike at deployed guns. To repel attacks, each gun is assigned a small fire support group equipped with pump-action shotguns, net launchers and electronic warfare systems.
They defend the gun when it is in a stowed position. If a drone threat is declared during firing, the crew ceases fire and joins the defence. Only in the event of a large-scale enemy assault on Ukrainian positions are artillerymen required to continue engaging the enemy, while the gun's defence is left entirely to the security unit.
The Bohdana-BH at a firing position.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Russian forces primarily target the running gear and the breech of the gun. Damage to the running gear immobilises the weapon, while damage to the breech makes it impossible to load.
Fortunately, the Bohdana is highly repairable. Most damage caused by UAV strikes or counter-battery fire can be fixed within two to three days.
"There are no fuel or oil tanks here, and no electronics. The gun is entirely mechanical. It is simply metal that can be repaired even at thefiringposition," emphasised Chief of Staff "John".
The gun is equipped with mechanical aiming mechanisms.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Representativesfromthemanufacturerremain in constant contact with the artillerymen. They advise troops on how to carry out repairs independently and also assist with restoring guns at repair workshopsbehind the lines. The necessary spare parts are delivered to the unit within a few days.
"We have to be creative when it comes to positioning the gun at the front."
Wishing the artillerymen success at their positions, we set off along battered roads towards the brigade headquarters. The brigade commander is already waiting for us at the main command post.
Every day, military and civilian vehicles cover dozens of kilometres along roads like these.
Photo: Ukrainska Pravda
By the time we arrived at headquarters, footage showing three Russian soldiers being struck – which we had seen on a live stream – had already been processed.
On the monitor of the brigade's chief of intelligence, Major Andrii Ius, dozens of tabs from Brave1 Market are open. Comparing and ordering drones, robots and electronic warfare systems from a computer in a remote, war-scarred corner of eastern Ukraine illustrates just how dynamic this technological war has become.
"We've already racked up 'e-points'worth nearly UAH 9 million. My guys will be back from training soon, and I'll order them new drones right away so they can put them to use against the Russians," the officer says with enthusiasm, in a tone that is both animated and almost fatherly. [The e-points system is a mechanism for motivating service personneland tracking achievements within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Units receive virtual bonuses for destroying enemy equipment and personnel, which are later exchanged for drones, electronic warfare systems and other essential equipment.]
The head of intelligence of the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade, Andrii Ius, explains how artillery reconnaissance works.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
He proudly showsthestatisticsforartillery brigades, where his 147th ranks among the leaders.
"Before we got things organised here, none of the artillerymen really cared about these 'e-points'," Andrii says with a smile. "As soon as we started publishing rankingsshowing us occupyingtop positions, everyone saw it andupped their game. Now we havesomehealthy competition here."
Artillerymen most often strike shelters with infantry and equipment.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
Before joining the 147th Brigade, Andrii served in the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade, where he managed to bring his unit into the top ten for confirmed enemy target strikes.
"The enemy on the front line mostly advances in small groups. Artillery works against infantry andtheshelterswhereinfantryis located. There is little heavy equipment now – mostly light vehicles such as motorcycles, buggies or vans and pickup trucks. Our task is to detect them, establish a steady flow of imagery and information from adjacent Air Assault Forces, and confirm our strikes on video," Ius says.
One Bohdana withstood three FPV drone strikes
We enter the brigade commander's office. The newly formed brigade is led by Colonel Viktor Dovhal. Afterexchanginggreetings, we immediately ask about his impressions of working with the Bohdana systems.
"After operating the M777, you immediately notice the significantly greater weight of the Bohdana. This system was designed for Ground Forcesartillery brigades, not for airborne units where mobility is critical. However, in static frontconditions, its power and accuracy justify themselves," the commander says.
Viktor Dovhal Colonel, Commander of the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
"The gun is indeed highlyresilient. One of our systems withstood three drone strikes to its optics. And within just two days, wehadfullyrepairedit. You wouldn't be able to do that with aCAESAR," Dovhal adds.
According to him, maintaining and supplying towed artillery in the "kill zone" is particularly challenging. Guns must be supplied with ammunition and evacuated to the rear for servicing. Even cleaning the barrel after a certain number of rounds requires special fluids, which are very difficult to use at the firing position.
"Before moving the guns, we analyse periods of peak enemy drone activity – what types of drones are flying, where they operate, and at what altitudes. Based on this analysis, we build our entire logistics system," the commander explains.
Unloading ammunition.
Photo: 147th Separate Artillery Brigade
All of the brigade's KrAZ-6322 tractorunitshave been fitted with additional armour and electronic warfare systems.
To supply the guns with ammunition, the brigade has established a network of "checkpoints" where shells and provisions are delivered bylorries. From there, they are distributed by pickups, Humvees or GAZ-66lorries.
"Today, positioning a gun at the front requires a creative approach and careful consideration of all risks," emphasises Viktor Dovhal. "It is not only about building additional firing positions, but also about deceiving the enemy. Tactical calculations that worked in the past no longer apply in a modern war shaped by 'kill zones'."
Indeed, both organisationally and technologically, modern artillery differs greatly from what faced the enemy in 2014 and even in 2022. More on this will be covered in one of the upcoming reports by Ukrainska Pravda.
Thearticleuses photographs provided by press officers of the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade, Dmytro Temniuk and Oleksandr Lypa.
