Ukrainian forces improvise with artillery shells as grenades in fierce urban combat, highlighting supply gaps

Defense Express reported the information.

On the eastern front of Ukraine, the fighting against the invading Russian forces has reached new levels of intensity, pushing Ukrainian soldiers to the limits of endurance and ingenuity. In recent weeks, videos and reports circulating on social media have shown Ukrainian troops using artillery shells and mortar rounds—some weighing as much as 40 kilograms—as makeshift “banzai grenades” during assaults on enemy-held buildings. 

In one particularly striking case, a 155mm artillery shell was fitted with a hand grenade fuse and thrown at Russian positions, a tactic that underscores the extreme physical and psychological demands placed on Ukraine’s defenders.

The use of such heavy munitions in close-quarters combat is not just a testament to the ferocity of the fighting, but also a stark indicator of the gaps in Ukraine’s military supply chain. 

Soldiers are forced to improvise with what they have, carrying and throwing massive shells by hand because they lack specialized, high-powered infantry explosives designed for urban warfare. This level of improvisation is reminiscent of earlier battlefield tactics, such as using anti-tank mines dropped from drones, and highlights the urgent need for more effective and safer solutions.

These examples point to two major areas where Ukraine’s defense industry must focus its efforts. First, there is a clear need for the development and mass production of powerful infantry munitions that can be used effectively in urban assaults, reducing the need for dangerous improvisation. Second, the widespread deployment of ground-based drones—capable of delivering heavy explosives like 120mm mortar rounds or 155mm shells—could dramatically improve both the safety and effectiveness of Ukrainian troops in these brutal urban battles.

While there have been promising developments, such as the introduction of ground robotic systems and 'kamikaze' drones, the current situation on the front lines shows that these innovations are not yet available at the scale or reliability needed. Until these gaps are addressed, Ukrainian soldiers will continue to rely on their resourcefulness and courage, even if it means risking their lives by turning artillery shells into hand-thrown weapons in the fight for their country’s survival.