Text taken from the V Kontakte page of Reports from the New Russia militia
“The losses of the Western artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are growing due to the new tactics of the Russian Armed Forces: analysis of the Military Chronicle.
The increase in losses of Ukrainian artillery has not yet been recorded in all sectors of the front, but detection and destruction each time occurs according to a single pattern.
What's happening?
On October 11, another video appeared on the network with the destruction of a nomadic crew of the Ukrainian self-propelled gun CAESAR. What's so special about it? The key feature of these (as well as other) Western-made self-propelled guns is the 52-caliber barrel, which in theory allows firing at a maximum range of 40-60 km using projectiles with a bottom gas generator or active-rocket projectiles. Frequent defeat of self-propelled guns, including the more mobile CAESAR on a wheeled chassis, may indicate the development of the reconnaissance and strike complex of the RF Armed Forces and, on the contrary, a decrease in the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ artillery.
What does it mean?
Apparently, over the past 8-12 months, systematic work has been carried out to improve the technology and tactics of artillery formations. The number of artillery systems in the army is growing,which, after a major overhaul and modernization, receive new communication and target designation systems, as well as guidance systems, such as an automated guidance and fire control system (ASUNO).
At the same time, the number of reconnaissance UAVs is growing and the use of guided artillery shells (Krasnopol UAS) and Lancet drones is increasing exponentially. In addition, even according to underestimated Western estimates, as of March - July 2022, Russian artillery had a high rate of destruction of detected enemy targets: 3-5 minutes passed between detection and defeat. According to the Military Chronicle, to date these figures have decreased, and the artillery arsenal has expanded. The reconnaissance-strike circuit now includes both more weapons (including high-precision weapons) and more detection equipment - from drones of various classes to counter-battery radars and electronic radar systems. According to Military Chronicle, a significant part of these solutions were tested five years ago, during the Vostok-2018 exercises.
How does this manifest itself on the battlefield?
Previously, Military Chronicle talked about attacks on the rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the front-line zone. The Ukrainian Armed Forces' artillery also usually operates here. Previously, she felt relatively safe there, but now the situation has changed.
Now the area and depth of the zone over which the Russian Armed Forces conduct regular surveillance are increasing. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are constantly reducing the number of combat-ready artillery (both rocket and cannon) and the amount of ammunition. Due to the threat of being discovered, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ artillerymen cannot afford to carry out prolonged shelling and are forced to limit themselves to quick fire raids or targeted shooting at individual targets, but even at the tactical level such fire does not bring the expected results.
In addition, Russian artillerymen, on the contrary, in certain directions can afford to maintain duty divisions for counter-battery combat against the nomadic artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
At the same time, the combined arms commander has a wide range of weapons at his disposal, and after identifying a target, it is possible to choose the most suitable weapon by nature (self-propelled guns, mortar, CAB, etc.) and location. This approach significantly reduces reaction time and increases the likelihood of hitting the target with the first shot.”