2014 Russia-Ukraine War

2S1 Gvozdika in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

The 2S1 Gvozdika has been documented in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War as a 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer used by Russian, Russian-aligned, and Ukrainian forces for mobile artillery fire support.

Weapon profile2S1 Gvozdika
SideRussiaUkraineRoleFire Support
2S1 Gvozdika, 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Ukrainian 2S1 Gvozdika SPG.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
2S1 Gvozdikas were deployed in Donbas during the pre-2022 phase, including in non-government-controlled areas monitored by the OSCE.

Sources: OSCE SMM October 2015 Report, OSCE SMM March 2017 Spot Report

Pro-Russian troops fired a 2S1 Gvozdika from combat positions in Luhansk region on May 24, 2022.

Sources: Reuters Pro-Russian 2S1 Luhansk Photo

Ukrainian forces fired or prepared 2S1 Gvozdikas near Bakhmut in 2023 and in Donetsk region in 2025.

Sources: Reuters Bakhmut 2S1 Photo, Reuters Donetsk 2S1 Photo

Both Russia and Ukraine continued fielding the 2S1 during the full-scale phase, with visually confirmed losses recorded for each side.

Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses

Denmark listed 2S1 artillery systems among military donations to Ukraine.

Sources: Danish Military Support for Ukraine, Army Recognition Danish 2S1 Transfer

Timeline

2S1 Gvozdika In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. OSCE records 2S1s in LPR- and DPR-linked heavy-weapon contexts

    The OSCE SMM reported nine 2S1 Gvozdikas near LPR-controlled Uspenka and additional 2S1s recorded or missing from DPR and Ukrainian heavy-weapons holding areas.

    Sources: OSCE SMM October 2015 Report

  2. OSCE observes 2S1s near Khreshchatytske

    An OSCE spot report said monitors assessed two self-propelled howitzers as 2S1 Gvozdikas moving near DPR-controlled Khreshchatytske northeast of Mariupol.

    Sources: OSCE SMM March 2017 Spot Report

  3. Reuters photographs pro-Russian 2S1 firing near Sievierodonetsk

    Reuters identified a 2S1 Gvozdika of pro-Russian troops firing a leaflet shell toward Sievierodonetsk from combat positions in Luhansk region.

    Sources: Reuters Pro-Russian 2S1 Luhansk Photo

  4. Ukrainian 57th Brigade fires 2S1 near Bakhmut

    Reuters identified Ukrainian servicemen of the 57th Kost Hordiienko Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade firing a 2S1 Gvozdika toward Russian troops near Bakhmut.

    Sources: Reuters Bakhmut 2S1 Photo

  5. Danish support records include 2S1 artillery systems

    Denmark's Ministry of Defence listed 2S1 artillery systems among Danish artillery donations to Ukraine; Army Recognition reported the entry as a Danish-supported 2S1 Gvozdika transfer with undisclosed quantity and origin.

    Sources: Danish Military Support for Ukraine, Army Recognition Danish 2S1 Transfer

  6. Ukrainian 141st Brigade prepares 2S1 in Donetsk region

    Reuters identified servicemen of Ukraine's 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade preparing a 2S1 Gvozdika to fire toward Russian troops in Donetsk region.

    Sources: Reuters Donetsk 2S1 Photo

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Direct public evidence places the 2S1 Gvozdika on both sides of the war. During the Donbas phase, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission reports documented 2S1 Gvozdikas in areas controlled by the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, including nine 2S1s near LPR-controlled Uspenka in October 2015 and two 2S1s moving near DPR-controlled Khreshchatytske on March 3, 2017.

Reuters later photographed a 2S1 Gvozdika of pro-Russian troops firing a leaflet shell toward Sievierodonetsk from combat positions in Luhansk region on May 24, 2022. Ukrainian use is also directly documented: Reuters identified Ukrainian servicemen of the 57th Kost Hordiienko Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade firing a 2S1 near Bakhmut on July 5, 2023, and identified the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade preparing a 2S1 to fire in Donetsk region on September 3, 2025.

Open-source loss documentation and donor records show the weapon remained part of the wider artillery inventory after the full-scale invasion. Oryx lists visually confirmed 2S1 Gvozdika losses for both Russia and Ukraine, while Denmark's Ministry of Defence lists 2S1 artillery systems among Danish military donations to Ukraine.

Sources: OSCE SMM October 2015 Report, OSCE SMM March 2017 Spot Report, Reuters Pro-Russian 2S1 Luhansk Photo, Reuters Bakhmut 2S1 Photo, Reuters Donetsk 2S1 Photo, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses, Danish Military Support for Ukraine

Timeline

The dated public record begins in the pre-2022 Donbas war, where OSCE monitoring repeatedly recorded 2S1 Gvozdikas in and around non-government-controlled areas. The full-scale invasion period then produced more direct firing documentation, with Reuters imagery showing pro-Russian and Ukrainian crews using or preparing the system in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

By 2025, the system also appeared in donor-support records. Denmark's official Ukraine-support overview lists 2S1 artillery systems under artillery donations, and Army Recognition reported that the Danish list had added 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers while leaving quantity and origin unspecified.

Sources: OSCE SMM October 2015 Report, Reuters Pro-Russian 2S1 Luhansk Photo, Reuters Bakhmut 2S1 Photo, Reuters Donetsk 2S1 Photo, Danish Military Support for Ukraine, Army Recognition Danish 2S1 Transfer

Battlefield role

In this conflict, the 2S1 Gvozdika appears as mobile Soviet-standard tube artillery. Forces News describes the vehicle as a 122 mm self-propelled turreted howitzer on a tracked armored chassis, with a four-person crew, amphibious mobility, and a main-gun range of 15.2 km. That profile matches its documented battlefield role: a shorter-range tracked fire-support system that can move with mechanized units and fire 122 mm artillery ammunition.

The available evidence separates deployment, firing, and transfer claims. OSCE reports support deployment in Donbas before the 2022 escalation; Reuters captions document firing or preparation to fire by pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces during the full-scale phase; Oryx supports continued fielding through visually confirmed losses; and Danish government records support a later external-supply channel to Ukraine.

The 2S1's continued appearance reflects the war's reliance on legacy Soviet artillery alongside newer NATO-standard guns. Its 122 mm caliber links it to the same ammunition ecosystem as D-30-class tube artillery, while the tracked chassis gives it a different mobility profile from towed howitzers.

Sources: Forces News Gvozdika Overview, OSCE SMM March 2017 Spot Report, Reuters Pro-Russian 2S1 Luhansk Photo, Reuters Bakhmut 2S1 Photo, Reuters Donetsk 2S1 Photo, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses, Danish Military Support for Ukraine

Videos

2S1 Gvozdika In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

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