The Rise of the Ukrainian Artillery: The Bohdana
As of October 2025, the Ukrainian self-propelled and towed artillery system "Bohdana" accounts for about 40% of all artillery systems used on the front lines. This was stated by Colonel Andriy Zhuravlyov, deputy chief of staff of the Missile Forces and Artillery Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in an interview with "RBK-Ukraine".
He mentioned that the Missile Forces and Artillery actively order "Bohdanas" and oversee the entire cycle of their creation – from requirement formation to testing and acceptance into service.
"We analyze usage and can request the manufacturer to implement improvements to this armament," Zhuravlyov noted.
In terms of characteristics, the Ukrainian "Bohdana" is already approaching Western analogs, particularly the French CAESAR, while at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the system was only in the developmental stage, whereas the CAESAR had been developed and tested for about seven years.
Active testing of the "Bohdana" began in 2022, and its modernization is ongoing. The Armed Forces currently have both self-propelled and towed versions of this artillery system. Testing of the towed version was conducted in early 2025.
The manufacturer has also developed and tested an automated command and control system for the "Bohdana," which reduces the preparation time for firing. Testing of the loading mechanism is currently underway. Additionally, a new artillery system with a barrel length of 39 calibers is being created alongside the existing version with a barrel of 52 calibers.
Colonel Zhuravlyov highlighted several advantages of the "Bohdana" over foreign artillery systems, particularly its ability to use a wide range of ammunition, simplifying logistics, and its significant barrel lifespan.
"Today, it is likely one of the most reliable artillery systems in terms of endurance. Its operational readiness on the front lines consistently reaches 80%. This means it has the best survivability," Zhuravlyov emphasized.
The Missile Forces and Artillery do not rule out that in the medium term, the "Bohdana" could become the standard artillery system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in various modifications.
Throughout the full-scale war, Ukrainian artillery has undergone significant transformation – from using Soviet models to combining Western systems with local developments. A key element of this process has been the 155mm self-propelled artillery system "Bohdana." More details can be found in the article "Defense": "Self-Propelled Artillery 'Bohdana', Competition with FPV Drones, and the Everlasting Soviet Howitzers. Everything You Need to Know About Ukrainian Artillery."
