2014 Russia-Ukraine War

D-30 122 mm howitzer in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

D-30 122 mm howitzers have appeared on both sides of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine received and fired the type, while Russian D-30 positions have been reported and struck on the front.

Weapon profileD-30 122 mm howitzer
SideRussiaUkraineRoleFire SupportTraining & Foreign Aid
D-30 122 mm howitzer, 122 mm towed howitzer, Artillery - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: File:122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30).jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukraine received 122 mm D-30 howitzers from Estonia in a January 2023 heavy-weapons aid package.

Sources: Estonian Minister of Defence: Allies must give Ukraine heavy weaponry

Croatia supplied about 25 122 mm D-30 howitzers to Ukraine before March 2023, according to Oryx's open-source delivery list.

Sources: Arms From The Adriatic: Croatia's Military Support For Ukraine

Ukrainian artillerymen fired a D-30 howitzer at a Russian position in Donetsk Oblast on April 18, 2023.

Sources: Ukrainian Artillery In Russian-Ukrainian War

Russian D-30 howitzers were reported at a frontline position near Myrnohrad and struck by Ukrainian FPV drone operators on January 22, 2026.

Sources: Myrnohrad without enemy guns: Pilots strike two Russian D-30 howitzers

Timeline

D-30 122 mm howitzer In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Estonia announces D-30 howitzers for Ukraine

    Estonia's Ministry of Defence announced a heavy-weapons aid package for Ukraine that included 122 mm D-30 howitzers and artillery ammunition.

    Sources: Estonian Minister of Defence: Allies must give Ukraine heavy weaponry

  2. Croatian D-30 deliveries listed before March 2023

    Oryx listed about 25 Croatian 122 mm D-30 howitzers delivered to Ukraine before March 2023.

    Sources: Arms From The Adriatic: Croatia's Military Support For Ukraine

  3. Ukrainian D-30 firing documented in Donetsk Oblast

    Getty footage identified Ukrainian artillerymen firing a D-30 howitzer at a Russian position in Donetsk Oblast.

    Sources: Ukrainian Artillery In Russian-Ukrainian War

  4. Russian D-30s struck near Myrnohrad

    ArmyInform reported that Ukrainian FPV drone operators struck two Russian D-30 howitzers near Myrnohrad after aerial reconnaissance detected them.

    Sources: Myrnohrad without enemy guns: Pilots strike two Russian D-30 howitzers

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The D-30 122 mm howitzer is documented in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through transfer records, battlefield imagery, and strike reporting. Estonia's Ministry of Defence announced on January 19, 2023 that its aid package for Ukraine included 122 mm D-30 howitzers, while Getty footage from Donetsk Oblast on April 18, 2023 identifies Ukrainian artillerymen firing a D-30 at a Russian position.

Russian use is documented through Ukrainian military reporting on Russian D-30 positions. ArmyInform, an information agency of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, reported on January 22, 2026 that FPV drone operators of the 79th Air Assault Tavriia Brigade struck two Russian D-30 howitzers near Myrnohrad.

Sources: Estonian Minister of Defence: Allies must give Ukraine heavy weaponry, Ukrainian Artillery In Russian-Ukrainian War, Myrnohrad without enemy guns: Pilots strike two Russian D-30 howitzers

Timeline

On January 19, 2023, Estonia publicly described a heavy-weapons aid package for Ukraine that included dozens of 155 mm FH-70 and 122 mm D-30 howitzers, artillery ammunition, support vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. Oryx later listed about 25 Croatian 122 mm D-30 howitzers delivered before March 2023, giving another open-source transfer lane for Ukraine's D-30 inventory.

By April 18, 2023, visual reporting placed a Ukrainian D-30 firing in Donetsk Oblast. In January 2026, ArmyInform's Myrnohrad report placed two Russian D-30s near the front, where Ukrainian FPV crews struck them after aerial reconnaissance detected the positions.

Sources: Estonian Minister of Defence: Allies must give Ukraine heavy weaponry, Arms From The Adriatic: Croatia's Military Support For Ukraine, Ukrainian Artillery In Russian-Ukrainian War, Myrnohrad without enemy guns: Pilots strike two Russian D-30 howitzers

Battlefield role

The sources support a conventional towed-artillery role: Ukrainian crews fired D-30s at Russian positions, and Russian D-30s were positioned close enough to the Myrnohrad fighting to be found by aerial reconnaissance and attacked by FPV drones. The cited material does not establish a complete order of battle or total quantities in use by either side.

The D-30's appearance on both sides reflects the conflict's large Soviet-caliber artillery base as well as foreign transfers to Ukraine. The Estonian and Croatian records document supply to Ukraine, while the ArmyInform report documents Russian fielding at a specific frontline location.

Sources: Ukrainian Artillery In Russian-Ukrainian War, Myrnohrad without enemy guns: Pilots strike two Russian D-30 howitzers, Estonian Minister of Defence: Allies must give Ukraine heavy weaponry, Arms From The Adriatic: Croatia's Military Support For Ukraine

Videos

D-30 122 mm howitzer In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

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Sources