September 2023 records of Russian equipment destruction

Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko explains the records of the destruction of Russian equipment set by Ukraine in September 2023.

Artillery

In September, a remarkable 947 Russian artillery pieces were destroyed. This surge can be attributed to the Russians' deteriorating counter-battery capabilities, their reliance on outdated and less sophisticated artillery systems, an increase in immobile towed artillery units with reduced range and accuracy, and worn-out guns.

Mortar systems are also included in these statistics, as they are considered a type of artillery, as exemplified by the 2S4 Tulpan and the 2S9 Nona-S. 

Dynamics of the Russian Army losses: artillery

Source: Ukrainian Finance Ministry

Motor Vehicles

Surprisingly, September saw a record-breaking 874 Russian vehicles destroyed, surpassing the previous record set in March 2022 when Russian logistics convoys were consistently targeted. The Zaporizhzhia region topped the list for the most Russian vehicle losses.

Dynamics of the Russian Army losses: vehicles and fuel tanks

Source: Ukrainian Finance Ministry

This is primarily because most supply routes, including critical bridges, are under Ukraine’s control. Furthermore, Russian troops have adopted tactics such as mobile warehouses for ammunition and fuel because of regular and high-precision strikes on their rear area. Additionally, a decrease in armored vehicles and the use of non-specialized, easier-to-destroy vehicles contributed to the high destruction rate among Russian equipment.

MLRS

One prediction that did not materialize in September was the destruction of MLRS. Nevertheless, 63 MLRS units were destroyed, marking the second-highest number in the full-scale war period. This surge can be attributed to the absence of long-range artillery in the Russian army and the necessity to move systems closer to the Line of Contact (LOC) to reach Ukraine’s forward rear. Consequently, Russian MLRS units were forced into a more vulnerable position, making them susceptible to Ukrainian artillery strikes.

Dynamics of the Russian Army losses: MLRS

Source: Ukrainian Finance Ministry

“Thus, September comes to an end with very encouraging indicators. The relentless destruction of Russian artillery not only prevents their military-industrial complex from fully offsetting losses but also pushes them into a substantial deficit. This deficit can only be alleviated through external support, not just in terms of sourcing shells but also acquiring the artillery pieces required to use them,” the expert concluded.