KYIV ($1=29.46 Ukrainian Hryvnias) — The Armed Forces of Ukraine demonstrated a modernized self-propelled artillery unit M109. Tracked 155-mm self-propelled howitzers probably came to Ukraine from Norway.
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In early May, it was announced that the Ukrainian military could receive about 20 units of ACS M109A3GN. Probably the M109 units were used by the artillerymen of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade named after the Black Cossacks. In May, the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium agreed to hand over additional weapons to Ukraine. These were American self-propelled artillery units M109 or German PzH – 2000.
On May 28, the press service of the Black Cossacks Brigade released a photo of ACS M109, number 075. “The war today is an artillery duel in which we cannot lose. We have no right because this is the life of our soldiers. The enemy has a lot of artillery. But we are still pushing it. Not in quantity, but in quality”, reads the reports of 72 OMB to the photo.
Also recently, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexei Reznikov announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received self-propelled artillery M109.
About M109 howitzer
The M109 is an American self-propelled howitzer, dating back to the 1960s, undergoing several upgrades, and continuing to be manufactured in the United States. He has registered 13 participations in 13 different military conflicts around the world from the 1960s to the present day. The howitzer is in service in more than 30 countries around the world.
The chassis is powered by a Detroit Diesel 8V71T engine guaranteeing the howitzer a maximum of 450 horsepower [335.56 kW]. The suspension is a torsion bar. The maximum speed of the howitzer is 56 km / h, and by refueling the fuel tank can travel a distance of 350 km.
The howitzer weighs 27.5 tons and is manned by a four-member crew. The main armament is a 155mm artillery cannon that fires a variety of projectiles: conventional with a range of 21 km [13 mi], RAP with a range of 30 km [19 mi], and Excalibur with a range of up to 40 km. Maximum can fire up to 4 shells per minute. The minor armament of the M109 is a 50 caliber [12.7 mm] M2 machine gun.
ACS M109A3GN is a Norwegian version of the 155-mm self-propelled howitzer American production M109 on an armored chassis. The Norwegian version of the ACS is a German upgrade of the American M109A3, armed with a new 39-caliber barrel, which allows you to shoot with improved 155-mm ammunition.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 21 February 2022, the Russian government claimed that Ukrainian shelling had destroyed an FSB border facility on the Russia Ukraine border, and claimed that it had killed 5 Ukrainian soldiers who tried to cross into Russian territory. Ukraine denied being involved in both incidents and called them a false flag.
On the same day, the Russian government formally recognized the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR as independent states, according to Putin not only in their de-facto controlled areas, but the Ukrainian Oblasts as a whole, and Putin ordered Russian troops, including tanks, to enter the regions.
On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine by Russian Armed Forces previously concentrated along the border. The invasion followed by targeted airstrikes of military buildings in the country, as well as tanks entering via the Belarus border.
Russia has so far not recognized the invasion of Ukraine as a “war”, although that is exactly what it is, claiming that it is a “special military operation”. According to the UN, in which Russia has its permanent representation, for military action to be defined as a “special military operation”, it must have a resolution issued by the UN. There is no such resolution, which automatically defines the military actions of the Russians as an invasion and war against the citizens of Ukraine.
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