Russia’s MSTA-B Artillery is Attacking Ukrainian cities

By Maya Carlin

Perhaps Russia’s most revered domestic weapon is its 152 mm MSTA-B howitzer. Some even refer to it as a ‘city killer’ for the damage it can do.

The Kremlin claims to have wiped out many Ukrainian armored vehicles and fortified strongholds with these robust artillery weapons in the last year-plus of war.

Last May, Russia’s Ministry of Defense circulated footage on social media showing the Soviet-era howitzer in action targeting Ukrainian positions. “Footage shows the combat work of the 152-mm ‘Msta-B’ howitzers of the Western Military District when performing firing operations to destroy armored vehicles and fortified positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the Ministry said.

While the purpose of videos like this is to fuel the Kremlin’s propaganda machine, the MSTA-B mobile howitzer is truly a formidable weapon.

The 152 mm howitzer was developed by the Soviet Army during the height of the Cold War. 

The U.S. and other Western nations were ramping up efforts to advance artillery systems, so the USSR launched a state-run design bureau to create a counter. Since the artillery system was only ever exported to former Soviet republics like Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, accurate production numbers of the howitzer remain unknown.

MSTA-B Rounds

Following a typical howitzer layout, the MSTA-B is relatively simple to operate. It has been enhanced over the years. Each trail on the howitzer hosts large spades to better secure the gun prior to firing. Two pivoting trailing wheels are positioned near the spades to improve the weapon system’s mobility. The MSTA-B can be loaded on an armored vehicle or a truck, and it can be hauled at speeds reaching roughly 80 kilometers per hour.