Ukraine secures Soviet-era howitzers from Poland amid limited Western aid

According to Defense Express, the press service of the 154th Separate Mechanized Brigade released photos from their artillery training, showing 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, likely received from Poland.

The camouflage pattern on the vehicles hints at their possible Polish origin, with a reference image provided for comparison.

It's also worth noting that in 2023, Poland sold 22 2S1 Gvozdika units to Ukraine, further supporting the idea that these weapons were purchased from Polish partners.

This seems to be a logical continuation of previous deliveries, such as when Ukraine discreetly received Gvozdikas from Finland in 2023. Similarly, Bulgaria’s unsealing of these howitzers in March 2024 might hint at future deliveries.

The key takeaway from this 2S1 Gvozdika case is that, even from open sources, it’s evident that the 154th Brigade is newly formed. To equip this brigade, Ukraine had to buy Warsaw Pact-standard weapons on its own.

This reliance on Warsaw Pact equipment highlights two things: the West's insufficient military aid and the paradox that Soviet-era arms remain more accessible on the global market than their Western counterparts.