2014 Russia-Ukraine War

2S5 Giatsint-S in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

The 2S5 Giatsint-S has appeared in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War as a 152 mm self-propelled artillery system used or fielded by both Ukraine and Russia, including Ukrainian Donbas service in 2014, documented Russian losses after 2022, and a captured Russian gun restored for Ukrainian use near Chasiv Yar.

Weapon profile2S5 Giatsint-S
SideRussiaUkraineRoleFire SupportCaptured Equipment
2S5 Giatsint-S, 152 mm tracked self-propelled gun, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: File:2S5 'Giatsint-S' Self-propelled Artillery

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukrainian 2S5 Giatsint-S batteries were used in the Donbas in 2014.

Sources: Fraza Ukrainian Arsenal

A Ukrainian army 2S5 was documented captured by separatists near Amvrosievka during the 2014 conflict.

Sources: ARES Raising Red Flags Annex

Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S systems are visually documented among Russian equipment losses after the 2022 full-scale invasion.

Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses

Ukrainian 2S5 Giatsint-S systems are visually documented among Ukrainian equipment losses after the 2022 full-scale invasion.

Sources: Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses

A Russian 2S5 position was discovered and destroyed in the Kupiansk sector in November 2023.

Sources: Gwara Kupiansk Giatsint-S

Ukrainian artillery crews restored and fired a captured Russian 2S5 near Chasiv Yar in May 2026.

Sources: Defense Express Chasiv Yar Giatsint-S

Timeline

2S5 Giatsint-S In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Ukrainian 2S5 batteries reported in the Donbas

    Mikhail Zhirokhov's historical account says Ukrainian self-propelled Giatsint guns first appeared in the Donbas on June 1, 2014, when the 7th battery was sent to reinforce the 30th Mechanized Brigade's battalion tactical group.

    Sources: Fraza Ukrainian Arsenal

  2. ARES documents captured 2S5 imagery

    Armament Research Services published an annex of armored fighting vehicles observed in the Ukraine conflict, including a Ukrainian army 2S5 captured by separatists near Amvrosievka.

    Sources: ARES Raising Red Flags Annex

  3. Russian 2S5 destroyed in the Kupiansk sector

    Gwara Media reported that Ukrainian special forces found a Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S position in the Kupiansk sector and coordinated HIMARS fire that destroyed the artillery system.

    Sources: Gwara Kupiansk Giatsint-S

  4. Captured Russian 2S5 fired by Ukrainian troops near Chasiv Yar

    Defense Express reported that the 24th Brigade restored a captured Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S and deployed it against Russian positions during fighting near Chasiv Yar.

    Sources: Defense Express Chasiv Yar Giatsint-S

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The 2S5 Giatsint-S is documented in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War on both sides of the conflict. A 2020 historical account by Mikhail Zhirokhov states that Ukrainian 2S5 batteries from the 26th Artillery Brigade were sent to the Donbas in summer 2014 and used during the early campaign, while an Armament Research Services annex published in November 2014 documented a Ukrainian army 2S5 captured by separatists near Amvrosievka.

For the full-scale invasion period, Oryx lists visually documented Russian 152 mm 2S5 Giatsint-S losses and Ukrainian 2S5 losses in its equipment-loss databases. Incident reporting also documents specific battlefield use: Gwara Media reported a Russian 2S5 position destroyed in the Kupiansk sector on November 27, 2023, and Defense Express reported on May 10, 2026 that Ukraine's 24th Brigade had restored a captured Russian 2S5 and fired it against Russian positions near Chasiv Yar.

Sources: Fraza Ukrainian Arsenal, ARES Raising Red Flags Annex, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses, Gwara Kupiansk Giatsint-S, Defense Express Chasiv Yar Giatsint-S

Timeline

The earliest sourced 2014 milestones place Ukrainian Giatsint-S batteries in the Donbas by June 2014, followed by summer losses and captured materiel as the front expanded. Those 2014 accounts support Ukrainian use and separatist capture of at least one Ukrainian 2S5, but they do not establish a complete inventory or firing record for every gun.

After Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion, visually documented loss lists and incident reporting show the system continuing to appear on the battlefield. Russian examples were recorded destroyed, damaged, or captured, while Ukrainian records include both legacy Ukrainian 2S5 losses and later use of a captured Russian gun restored by Ukrainian artillery crews.

Sources: Fraza Ukrainian Arsenal, ARES Raising Red Flags Annex, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses, Defense Express Chasiv Yar Giatsint-S

Operational narrative

In Ukrainian service, the Giatsint-S filled a long-range 152 mm self-propelled artillery role inherited from the Soviet inventory. The Fraza account describes the system as scarce in Ukrainian service, with the available 2S5s concentrated in the 26th Artillery Brigade and committed to the Donbas in batteries during 2014. It also describes Ukrainian withdrawals from direct participation after the Minsk arrangements, which is consistent with the system's role as heavy artillery rather than a ubiquitous front-line vehicle.

Russian employment is visible in later open-source loss records and strike reporting rather than in a single official order of battle. Oryx records dozens of Russian 2S5 losses in the full-scale invasion, and the Gwara Kupiansk report identifies a Russian 2S5 position found by Ukrainian special forces and destroyed after HIMARS fire was adjusted onto it. These sources support fielding and battlefield exposure of Russian Giatsint-S guns without proving every listed loss was actively firing when struck.

Captured equipment forms a distinct part of the record. The 2014 ARES annex documents a Ukrainian 2S5 captured near Amvrosievka, while Defense Express reports the reverse pattern in 2026: Ukrainian artillery crews from the 24th Brigade restored a captured Russian Giatsint-S, nicknamed Kraken, and used it near Chasiv Yar. That report directly supports operational Ukrainian use of a captured Russian 2S5 rather than mere possession.

Sources: Fraza Ukrainian Arsenal, ARES Raising Red Flags Annex, Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Gwara Kupiansk Giatsint-S, Defense Express Chasiv Yar Giatsint-S

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