Poland handed over the KRAB cannon-howitzers to Ukraine. 18 self-propelled gun howitzers will be used by three artillery squadrons. Poland has also trained 100 Ukrainian artillerymen to operate KRABs.

An anonymous source from the government confirms that KRABs will be received by three artillery squadrons. In addition, one hundred Ukrainian artillerymen will be trained in the use of modern weapons. The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense informed about the appearance of cannon-howitzers in the Ukrainian armed forces without specifying their origin.

The weapons that Poland donated to Ukraine include about 250 T-72 tanks, 2S1 Goździk self-propelled howitzers and Grad rocket launchers. Polish Pioruns are currently a hit in Ukraine. Poland also donated air-to-air missiles for MIG-29 and Su-27 aircraft, Warmate drones and a large amount of ammunition.

KRABs are produced in the arms industry plant Huta Stalowa Wola. The tracked chassis is under a Korean license, and the 155mm gun is a modification of the British design. The maximum firing range is 40 km with basic ammunition. In a minute, the KRAB can fire six times.

The combination of the high rate of fire speed, low reaction time, as well as long-range and firepower make the AHS KRAB not only the most powerful gun-howitzer in the Polish Army but also considered by experts to be one of the best in the world.

Thanks to the support from Poland, Ukraine has at its disposal 24 western cannon-howitzers. The other six, namely the Caesar howitzers, were donated by France. The Netherlands and Germany have pledged to donate a total of 12 pieces of this type of weapon.

The handing over of weapons to our eastern neighbours is much faster than in the case of other countries, which is made possible by the law in force since mid-March. Poland is the second-largest donor of military equipment to Ukraine in the world, after the USA.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński