When the enemy manages to detect the positions of Ukrainian artillery units, it spares no ammunition in its attempts to disable and destroy their guns.

A few days ago, soldiers of the 40th Separate Artillery Brigade named after Grand Duke Vytautas managed to save an AHS Krab self-propelled howitzer from a massive enemy drone attack.

The story of how the valuable weapon was saved was told to ArmyInform by Ruslan, call sign “Horynych”,  the driver-mechanic of an AHS Krab self-propelled howitzer serving with the 40th Separate Artillery Brigade.

Чоловік у темній футболці сидить на тлі маскувальної сітки та зелені. Він усміхається, а спокійна поза створює невимушену атмосферу короткого відпочинку.

The enemy launched its first strike using a large fiber-optic FPV drone, which the soldiers believe was a “Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky” UAV.

Capable of carrying a payload of up to 4 kilograms, this Russian drone poses a serious threat, as it is equipped with a PG-7 anti-tank grenade warhead.

“When the first FPV drone came in, we shot it down with our assault rifles. Immediately afterward, they began launching massive drone attacks against us”, — Horynych recalled.

The crew immediately decided to evacuate the self-propelled howitzer to an alternate firing position. However, this proved difficult because, following the first attack, the enemy launched a series of additional strikes almost instantly.

Військовослужбовець стоїть у лісосмузі зі зброєю та бронежилетом із українським прапорцем. Позаду видно дим і пошкоджені дерева, що передає напружену обстановку після бою або обстрілу.

This time, Russian forces attacked not only with fiber-optic FPV drones but also with dangerous Molniya fixed-wing strike drones capable of carrying approximately 5 kilograms of explosives.

“After the first drone, two more FPVs came in, followed immediately by a swarm of three Molniyas. Then two more Molniyas.

We shot them down as best we could. One of the guys and I honestly thought we wouldn’t survive — we thought they’d kill us. But we got lucky and stayed alive”, — Horynych said.

Although the enemy was determined to destroy the self-propelled howitzer at any cost, the armored Krab proved too tough for both the Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky drone and the Molniya UAVs.

After shooting down the first drone with assault rifles, the soldiers continued firing at the drones that followed.

The enemy drone operators proved insufficiently skilled to hit their target accurately.

As a result, thanks to their composure and well-considered actions, the Ukrainian defenders not only survived the intense enemy drone assault but also succeeded in saving and preserving a highly valuable and expensive piece of military equipment.