Category
War in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Bohdana Howitzer Caught in Action as It Hammers Russian Forces, Photo

Bohdana Howitzer Caught in Action

Ever wondered what Ukraine’s weapons can do? Meet Bohdana, Ukraine's domestically built howitzer, now destroying Russian forces and leaving craters in their positions.

3 min read
Authors
Photo of Mykyta Shandyba
Mykyta Shandyba
Photographer

In the muddy fields and scorched forests of Ukraine’s East, there’s a deep, unmistakable roar that echoes before a precision strike lands miles away. It’s the voice of Bohdana—Ukraine’s first domestically produced self-propelled howitzer. Built in the wake of war, refined under fire, and deployed with deadly efficiency by the 16th Separate Artillery Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard, Bohdana has become a symbol of homegrown resistance and technological resilience.

The Bohdana self-propelled artillery system opens fire on its targets — the moment of the shot captured in smoke and sunlight. The work of the artillery crew is precise, resolute, and vital on the front line.
The Bohdana self-propelled artillery system opens fire on its targets — the moment of the shot captured in smoke and sunlight. The work of the artillery crew is precise, resolute, and vital on the front line.

Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion forced Ukraine to rapidly modernize and rethink its defense capabilities. When the world hesitated, Ukraine innovated. The Bohdana project—once shelved due to pro-Russian political pressure—was revived and accelerated.

Bohdana is armed with a 155mm cannon, compatible with NATO ammunition. This caliber matters since it allows Ukrainian forces to seamlessly integrate Western-supplied shells, ensuring long-range, accurate, and sustained firepower. Its range exceeds 40 kilometers, and in some tests, it reached over 50 km, outperforming many Soviet-era systems.

The loader of the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system prepares a shell for firing, carefully screwing in the fuse.
The loader of the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system prepares a shell for firing, carefully screwing in the fuse.

It’s mounted on a 6x6 or 8x8 wheeled chassis, giving it mobility and speed across varied terrain, which is a crucial factor for “shoot and scoot” tactics that help Ukrainian artillery evade Russian counter-battery fire. Ukraine has significantly expanded the production of its domestically developed 155-mm Bohdana self-propelled howitzers, reaching a monthly output of up to 36 units.

Bohdana first proved itself during the battle for Snake Island, a strategic outpost in the Black Sea. Ukrainian gunners used it to relentlessly strike Russian positions, forcing the invaders to abandon the island. Since then, the system has been actively used on multiple frontlines, from Bakhmut to Zaporizhzhia, delivering precise blows to Russian artillery, fortifications, and logistics hubs.

From inside a fortified position, a Ukrainian artilleryman stands at the edge of the dugout, framed by darkness and daylight. Shells are stacked and ready for action.
From inside a fortified position, a Ukrainian artilleryman stands at the edge of the dugout, framed by darkness and daylight. Shells are stacked and ready for action.

The soldiers of the 16th Separate Artillery Brigade, often working in coordination with aerial reconnaissance drones and Western-supplied targeting systems, have mastered Bohdana in record time.

While much of Ukraine’s arsenal today comes from allied nations, Bohdana stands out as a homegrown success story. In the face of Russia’s aggression, Ukraine’s defense industry has begun to flourish, producing not only drones and electronic warfare systems, but world-class artillery platforms.

A Ukrainian artilleryman communicates by radio in front of the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system, camouflaged under netting at a frontline position.
A Ukrainian artilleryman communicates by radio in front of the Bohdana self-propelled artillery system, camouflaged under netting at a frontline position.

For partners in the US, Canada, and across Europe, Bohdana represents more than just a technical achievement but a proof that investments in Ukraine are investments in global security. Supporting Ukraine means supporting a future where tyrants do not redraw borders by force.

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