Direct proof of use
The M-46 is documented in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War on both sides of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian-side documentation begins with Croatian supply: Shephard reported on August 15, 2022 that Croatia had provided at least 15 M-46 130 mm towed field guns to Ukraine, citing Oryx reporting from August 13. Oryx's Croatia aid tracker separately lists about 15 130 mm M-46H1 field guns supplied in August 2022.
Russian use is documented later. Defense Express reported on January 29, 2024 that public photos showed Russian troops using 130 mm M-46 towed field guns in battles against Ukrainian forces. A June 2024 Defense Express report and a July 2024 Army Recognition report then described Russian frontline images and videos showing M-46 guns and 130 mm ammunition, including reporting that Russian M-46s had been used in Ukraine since January 2024.
Sources: Shephard Croatia M-46, Oryx Croatia Aid, Defense Express Russian M-46 January 2024, Defense Express Korean 130 mm Projectiles, Army Recognition Russian M-46 2024
Timeline
On August 13-15, 2022, the public record tied the M-46 to Ukraine through Croatian transfers. Oryx listed about 15 M-46H1 guns in the Croatian military-support record, and Shephard reported that at least 15 M-46 130 mm field guns had been provided to Ukraine.
By January 2024, Defense Express reported public imagery of Russian M-46 guns in combat against Ukrainian forces. By June and July 2024, additional reporting described Russian frontline imagery of M-46 guns, rare 130 mm ammunition, and Russian Ministry of Defense claims that M-46 howitzers of the Sever Group of Forces supported assault detachments in Kharkiv Oblast.
Sources: Shephard Croatia M-46, Oryx Croatia Aid, Defense Express Russian M-46 January 2024, Defense Express Korean 130 mm Projectiles, Army Recognition Russian M-46 2024
Narrative
For Ukraine, the M-46 record is primarily a transfer and fielding record. Croatia's M-46H1 guns gave Ukrainian forces additional long-range towed tube artillery at a time when Ukraine was absorbing varied Soviet-caliber artillery from European stocks. The sources used here support the delivery and fielding context; they do not establish every Ukrainian unit, firing location, or ammunition stock for the Croatian guns.
For Russia, the record is an operational-use record tied to reactivation of stored 130 mm guns. Defense Express stated that public photos showed Russian forces using M-46 guns in battles against Ukraine in January 2024, while later reports described Russian M-46 firing imagery and scarce 130 mm ammunition. Army Recognition reported that Russian M-46 guns had been used in Ukraine since January and cited a Russian Ministry of Defense statement that Sever Group of Forces M-46 howitzers supported assault detachments in the Kharkiv region on June 26, 2024.
The documented battlefield role is long-range towed artillery fire support. The M-46's 130 mm caliber and legacy ammunition supply make the Ukrainian and Russian records different: Ukraine's sourced record is tied to Croatian M-46H1 supply, while Russia's sourced record is tied to drawing stored guns back into service and finding compatible 130 mm projectiles.
Sources: Shephard Croatia M-46, Oryx Croatia Aid, Defense Express Russian M-46 January 2024, Defense Express Korean 130 mm Projectiles, Army Recognition Russian M-46 2024
