Russia-Ukraine Flash Report for 5-21-22 13:30 PDT - OPSEC? What's OPSEC (Patreon)

We would like to provide photo credit and thank Aleksandr "Sasha" Kots, a Russian journalist for the use of his picture. We happily share this with his watermark that promotes his Telegram channel.

Yesterday, Russian State Media reported from the southeastern edge of Rubizhne showing a Russia 2S4 Tyulpan 240mm self-propelled heavy mortar in action. This is the largest mortar system used on the planet. They were built from 1969 to 1988, have a crew of 5, and can lob a 240mm mortar (9.4 inches!) with a range of 9.6 kilometers (6 miles).

It can fire a variety of munitions including CBRN, although the Russian Ministry of Defense reported years ago that the CBRN munitions are no longer available. The Soviet Union built a total of 588. Beyond the former Soviet Union, current and former operators include Syria, Czechoslovakia, Iraq, and Ukraine.

The target was a bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, which they did hit and damage. There are two other bridges so Ukrainian forces are not cut off. I'm told by a former combat engineer that where they hit the bridge and the damage caused can be temporarily repaired quickly - if the supports on both sides aren't badly damaged.

Russia did a modernization program of the self-propelled mortar system in 2017 and had nine in operation.

Had nine.

They have eight now.

After the news reports, which were recorded at 48°59'13.3"N 38°25'31.7"E, Russia never moved the firebase. Because of terrible OPSEC, and incredibly poor leadership in the field that could only be described as arrogance, the 2S4 Tyulpan 240mm self-propelled heavy mortar had a close encounter of the worst kind with NATO 155mm high explosive shells with proximity fuse delivered by M777 artillery.

The unit was destroyed by the strike and the ammunition cooked off, creating a massive secondary explosion.