2014 Russia-Ukraine War

2S22 Bohdana in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

The 2S22 Bohdana has been used by Ukrainian forces in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War as a wheeled 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, first documented in combat during the Snake Island campaign and later in frontline service in eastern Ukraine.

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukrainian forces used the 2S22 Bohdana in the Snake Island campaign in 2022.

Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Snake Island Bohdana, RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle

A 2S22 Bohdana was documented firing or preparing to fire toward Russian troops in Donetsk region on September 13, 2023.

Sources: RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle, Reuters Donetsk Bohdana Photo

Denmark financed 18 Ukrainian-produced Bohdana artillery pieces for Ukraine's front-line needs.

Sources: Danish MoD Bohdana Donation

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine received Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems through the Danish Model.

Sources: Ukraine MoD Danish Model Results

A Bohdana crew of Ukraine's 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade was documented operating in the Toretsk sector in 2025.

Sources: Frontliner Toretsk Bohdana

Ukraine stated in October 2025 that monthly Bohdana production had reached 40 systems.

Sources: President of Ukraine Defense Industries Forum

Timeline

2S22 Bohdana In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Bohdana used in the Snake Island campaign

    Ukrainska Pravda and RFE/RL document the Ukrainian Bohdana's first combat mission as fire from the mainland against Russian positions on Zmiinyi Island.

    Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Snake Island Bohdana, RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle

  2. Bohdana photographed firing in eastern Ukraine

    RFE/RL photographed a 2S22 Bohdana firing toward Russian positions, and Reuters identified related Donetsk-region imagery of Ukrainian servicemen preparing to fire the system.

    Sources: RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle, Reuters Donetsk Bohdana Photo

  3. Denmark finances Ukrainian-produced Bohdana pieces

    The Danish Ministry of Defence announced funding for 18 Ukrainian-produced Bohdana artillery pieces requested for Ukraine's front-line needs.

    Sources: Danish MoD Bohdana Donation

  4. Ukraine reports Bohdana deliveries under the Danish Model

    Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said the Armed Forces had received Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems in the first stage of the Danish Model procurement mechanism.

    Sources: Ukraine MoD Danish Model Results

  5. Bohdana crew documented in the Toretsk sector

    Frontliner reported from a Bohdana crew of Ukraine's 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Donetsk Oblast and described the howitzer striking a Russian target in the Toretsk sector.

    Sources: Frontliner Toretsk Bohdana

  6. Ukraine states monthly Bohdana production reached 40

    President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was producing 40 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers per month during a defense-industries forum speech.

    Sources: President of Ukraine Defense Industries Forum

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

Ukrainska Pravda's reconstruction of the Snake Island campaign places Ukraine's only Bohdana self-propelled howitzer with Ukrainian forces operating from the Danube marshes against Russian positions on Zmiinyi Island in 2022. RFE/RL later summarized that first combat mission as strikes from the Ukrainian mainland against Russian-occupied Snake Island in June 2022.

Direct later documentation places the weapon in eastern Ukraine. RFE/RL photographed a 2S22 Bohdana firing toward Russian positions on September 13, 2023, and Reuters distributed a related image caption identifying Ukrainian servicemen preparing to fire a 2S22 Bohdana in Donetsk region on the same date. Frontliner reported from a Bohdana crew of Ukraine's 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Donetsk Oblast on April 29, 2025, and described the howitzer striking a Russian target in the Toretsk sector.

Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Snake Island Bohdana, RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle, Reuters Donetsk Bohdana Photo, Frontliner Toretsk Bohdana

Timeline

The public record begins with a scarce prototype used in the Snake Island campaign, then broadens through photojournalism and front-line reporting as Ukrainian production increased. Danish and Ukrainian government releases document a later supply path in which donor financing bought Ukrainian-produced Bohdana artillery pieces for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Snake Island Bohdana, RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle, Reuters Donetsk Bohdana Photo, Danish MoD Bohdana Donation, Ukraine MoD Danish Model Results, Frontliner Toretsk Bohdana, President of Ukraine Defense Industries Forum

Battlefield role

In the conflict record, Bohdana appears as Ukrainian 155 mm self-propelled artillery for fire support, interdiction, and longer-range strikes. The Snake Island reporting describes the system being used from the Ukrainian mainland against Russian positions on the island, while the September 2023 RFE/RL and Reuters records show the weapon firing or preparing to fire toward Russian troops in Donetsk region.

The system's NATO-standard 155 mm chambering is part of its wartime role. RFE/RL noted that the caliber was easier for Ukraine to source from Western allies than Soviet-standard 152 mm ammunition, and the Danish Ministry of Defence described the donated Bohdana artillery pieces as compatible with all types of 155 mm NATO artillery shells.

Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Snake Island Bohdana, RFE/RL Bohdana In Battle, Reuters Donetsk Bohdana Photo, Danish MoD Bohdana Donation

Production and availability

Bohdana's conflict use expanded from a single wartime prototype into a Ukrainian-produced artillery family. Denmark announced on July 10, 2024 that it was financing 18 Ukrainian-produced Bohdana artillery pieces, describing the purchase as equipment requested for Ukraine's front-line needs. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence later said the Armed Forces of Ukraine had received Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems under the first stage of the Danish Model.

Ukrainian official statements also point to higher domestic output by late 2025. In an October 6, 2025 defense-industry speech, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was producing 40 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers per month and that more than 40 percent of weapons being used at the front were Ukrainian-made.

Sources: Danish MoD Bohdana Donation, Ukraine MoD Danish Model Results, President of Ukraine Defense Industries Forum

Sources