Ukraine Has Transformed The Role Of Artillery On The Battlefield
- 24.09.2026, 13:55
About 95% of the strikes are carried out by drones, but cannons are still indispensable.
The war in Ukraine has changed the role of artillery on the battlefield. The massive artillery barrages that determined the course of many battles in the early years of the invasion have given way to drones. However, artillery still performs tasks that drones cannot always handle, writes TWZ (translation by Charter97.org).
The Ukrainian military is now increasingly using artillery in conjunction with strike and reconnaissance drones. Drones search for targets, destroy Russian artillery and supplies, while artillery pieces support the infantry and strike positions inaccessible to drones.
“Today, about 95% of strikes are carried out by drones. But it’s simply impossible to do without artillery,” says a Ukrainian officer.
The main advantage of artillery is its independence from weather conditions and resistance to electronic warfare. In certain areas, Russian electronic warfare systems prevent drones from accurately reaching their targets. In such cases, artillery remains one of the few options.
At the same time, the work of artillery crews has become much more dangerous. Positions are no longer grouped into large batteries: just a few rounds can give away the gun’s location and lead to a retaliatory drone strike. Therefore, crews prepare shelters in advance and carefully camouflage their positions.
The choice of ammunition is also changing. The Ukrainian military does not want to completely abandon the inexpensive 155-mm M107 shells in favor of longer-range and more expensive options. The commander considers a mix of approximately 60% long-range and 40% standard ammunition to be optimal.
Particular hopes are pinned on the Ukrainian “Bogdana” self-propelled gun. Military officials note that it can be repaired quickly thanks to close ties with the manufacturer. With foreign equipment, such problems sometimes take months to resolve.
“The nature of war does not stand still,” the military notes. That is precisely why the Ukrainian army is now trying not to replace artillery with drones, but to make the two types of weapons work together.
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