Ukraine puts Polish self-propelled guns "Krab" on frontline

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that Polish self-propelled artillery mounts "Krab" are ready to carry out combat missions at the frontline.

“I am glad to announce that the Polish Krab self-propelled guns are ready to perform combat missions at the front. After the M777 and FH70 guns, the Ceasar and M109A3 self-propelled guns, this is the 5th type of 155-mm artillery that we managed to attract,” Reznikov wrote on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

The minister said that a lot has changed since the full-scale Russian invasion.

Reznikov noted that since February 24, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry has been focusing on providing the army with weapons and ammunition, military and special equipment.

“I had to learn very quickly because the Ministry of Defence was not adapted to the large-scale import of weapons, there were no relevant competencies. Moreover, the state as a whole did not have such competencies to a sufficient extent. After all, before that, the emphasis was on the export of domestic weapons,” Reznikov stressed.

He said the ministry promptly set up work in three areas: interaction with partners to receive material and technical assistance; purchase of weapons and equipment from Ukrainian manufacturers; import through direct contracts of the Ministry of Defence and mechanisms of special exporters.

A key strategic decision was the transfer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to heavy weapons used in NATO. In particular, this applies to artillery, which plays a decisive role.

Reznikov noted that Ukraine was already aware at the beginning of March that during an intense war with Russia, Ukrainian resources are depleted, and they are incomparable to the enemy, so relying solely on Soviet weapons would be a losing path in advance.

“As of today, the Ministry of Defence has provided the Armed Forces of Ukraine with more than 150 artillery platforms of 155-mm calibre. The stocks of shells of this calibre are already 10 per cent higher than the stocks of large-calibre Soviet-type shells, which were on February 24, 2022. At the same time, the effectiveness of these shells is higher than Soviet models, so there is less consumption,” Reznikov said.

At the same time, more than fifty guns of other large calibers, as well as shells for them, were delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, making up more than 75 per cent of the volume that was at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Reznikov also noted the work of specialists of the Ukroboronprom Aerospace and defence company, who restored or put hundreds of pieces of military equipment, including captured ones, into the service of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Ukraine received from partners about 250 Western-style armoured vehicles (M113 TM, M113 YPR-765, Bushmaster, Mastiff, Husky, Wolfhound, etc.) and the Ministry of Defence continues this work. As well as portable anti-aircraft missile systems (Stinger, Starstreak, Mistral, Piorun, Grom, etc.), anti-tank missile systems (NLAW, Javelin, Milan, etc.) and grenade launchers.

In addition, the ministry, through various mechanisms, handed over hundreds of drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including several dozen strike drones. Ukraine expects serious UAVs in the next aid packages, the minister said.

Ukraine's coastal defences are reinforced by effective Harpoon systems, which, in conjunction with Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles, keep the enemy fleet at bay.