Footage has emerged on social media appearing to show a Russian artillery system exploding in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Russian forces captured smoke rising from the 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled howitzer artillery system before it dramatically exploded and was engulfed by flames.
The video then shows the troops walking over to the burnt remains of the howitzer as it lies in a muddy field behind the front lines.
One popular open source intelligence account wrote on X: “Russian-occupied southern Luhansk Oblast or northern Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine Destroyed Russian 152mm 2S5 ‘Giatsint-S’ self-propelled howitzer. This appears to be a previously undocumented loss.”
The footage was reportedly taken on Monday, the same day that Ukraine’s Defense Ministry published its own footage showing a US-made artillery rocket system firing at a howitzer.
READ MORE: Russia’s horror drones armed with 90kg bombs that can ‘vaporise’ human bodies
It wrote on X: “HIMARS sends his regards to a Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled howitzer.”
Though both videos show the same type of artillery system exploding, it has not been confirmed whether they are both of the same attacks.
Artillery continues to be a highly contentious issue for Russia and Ukraine, with Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces severely lacking in firepower and relying heavily on international aid.
Zelensky previously warned that Russian troops were pushing his forces “back every day” as they can fire 10 times the number of shells than Ukrainian troops.
DON’T MISS:
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service also warned of the imminent threat presented by ammunition and artillery shortages.
He told the BBC: “There will be problems starting in mid-May. We are going to face a rather difficult situation in the near future, but it’s not catastrophic, and we need to understand that.”
This comes as Ukraine is set to recieve a $61 (£49) billion aid bill from the US after the House of Representatives finally approved it over the weekend. It will now pass through the Senate and eventually Joe Biden’s desk before it’s signed into law.
The bill is expected to alleviate the tensions brought by artillery shortages and better equipt Ukraine against Russia’s upcoming summer offensive.
