M109 Paladin's role in helping Ukraine clear Robotyne of Russian troops

United24 Media recently showcased the combat tactics employed by the 47th Assault Brigade's M109 A6 Paladin self-propelled artillery and Leopard 2A6 tanks during the liberation of Robotyne in late August 2023, Defense Express reports.

Ukrainian soldiers praised the M109 A6 Paladins for their agility in changing positions swiftly, allowing them to evade potential retaliatory fire from Russian occupiers. These self-propelled guns fired between 50 to 100 shells per day during the village's fiercest battles, often employing effective 155-mm DPICM cluster ammunition from the United States.

Video: Ukraine 24

Despite having a maximum range of up to 24 km, M109 A6 Paladin crews fired from distances of approximately 10 km. Meanwhile, Leopard 2A6 tank crews focused on providing cover for Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which accompanied Ukrainian infantry units in breaching the enemy's defenses.

Remarkably, The Drive portal also highlighted this video and compared its content to statements made by Andrei Gurulev, a high-ranking member of the Russian State Duma. 

Gurulev essentially confirmed the effectiveness of Ukrainian self-propelled artillery by complaining on his Telegram channel that it operated beyond the reach of the Russian army's artillery. Additionally, he acknowledged the increased use of cluster shells by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to target Russian infantry positions.