Recently, photos surfaced on social media showing a 152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled artillery system literally buried in the ground. This system belongs to the russian occupation forces engaged in battles against Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
What stands out is the scale of the shelter the russians dug for their artillery. Another notable aspect is the mere presence of the Giatsint-S in these images, as this system rarely appears in public materials related to the russian Armed Forces.
At first glance, this may seem paradoxical, but in reality, it is a deliberate tactical adaptation that has emerged at this stage of the russian-Ukrainian war. The primary reason behind it is the dominance of drones on the battlefield.
This aligns with findings from a recent report by the British think tank RUSI (Royal United Services Institute), which examines current front-line developments. The report highlights that both russian forces and Ukraine’s Defense Forces actively disperse their artillery systems and position them in underground shelters.
Such tactics enhance survivability against counter-battery fire and the widespread use of attack drones. Even minor drone damage can necessitate the premature replacement of a gun barrel—a costly and time-consuming process. And even for russian forces, artillery barrels are a finite resource.
As a result, at this stage of the war, artillery operations have shifted toward subterranean positioning, requiring separate shelters for artillery systems, ammunition depots, and personnel.
In the specific case of the russian 2S5 Giatsint-S, burying it appears to be the only viable protection method. This system lacks an armored cabin to shield its crew, and even the crude addition of protective grates has been deemed impractical by the occupiers.
Earlier, War News Hub reported that the emergence of the 2S44 Giatsint-K wheeled self-propelled artillery system has revived interest in the Soviet-era 2S21 Msta-K project.
