Direct proof of use
The 122 mm M-30 howitzer is documented on the Russian side of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. Oryx's Russian equipment-loss list for the full-scale invasion includes one Russian 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30) recorded as damaged, and Oryx states that its loss list includes only equipment for which photo or video evidence is available.
Separate 2024 reporting by Militarnyi described Russian military use of World War II-era M-30 howitzers in the war against Ukraine, citing footage of a damaged 122 mm M-30 howitzer after an attack on the position. Army Recognition later summarized the same 2024 footage as showing the howitzer in active Russian use and reported additional April 2025 claims that Russian artillery units were again bringing M-30 model 1938 howitzers into use.
Sources: Oryx Russian Equipment Losses, Militarnyi M-30 Ukraine Report, Army Recognition M-30 Ukraine Report
Narrative
In this conflict record, the M-30 appears as a legacy Russian towed artillery system rather than as a newly produced weapon. The available direct evidence identifies the side as Russia and the role as tube-artillery fire support, with no public source here establishing a larger confirmed inventory in active front-line use.
Defense Express reported in April 2025 that Russian forces were taking old M-30 towed howitzers out of long-term storage, restoring them, and returning them to the ranks. The same article cited the Military Balance 2024 assessment that Russia held 2,000 M-30 howitzers in storage, while also noting that available information did not establish how many were combat-ready.
The M-30's role is bounded by its design as a 122 mm towed field howitzer. National Defence University of Ukraine lists the M-30 as a 1938 Soviet howitzer with a maximum range of 11.8 km and a split-trail towed carriage, which fits the fire-support role assigned to the Russian conflict-use row.
Sources: Defense Express M-30 Reactivation Analysis, National Defence University M-30
