Artillery Battalion Commander: If We’d Had CAESAR at the Start of the War, It Would Have Seriously Affected the Front

Major Denys Chmykhun, commander of the self-propelled artillery battalion of the 148th Separate Artillery Zhytomyr Brigade, made a statement to Ukrinform about the impact the French CAESAR self-propelled artillery system could have had if it were available at the beginning of the war. Chmykhun highlighted that the CAESAR system, which is currently one of the best in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, boasts a long range, maximum precision, and impressive mobility.

He expressed that had a few CAESAR battalions been present at the outset of the conflict, it would have significantly affected the front line. The Ukrainian soldiers operating the CAESAR vehicles have not only mastered its operation but also possess the ability to repair it when necessary. Chmykhun praised the system's electronic capabilities, noting that when error codes arise, the crew members quickly decipher them via an online translator and rectify the issues.

However, he also admitted that the CAESAR system can be finicky, given it was not built to withstand the intensity of constant combat operations. Despite this, the CAESAR system is a reliable asset that consistently engages and destroys every target it can reach, including enemy personnel, drone control points, and artillery pieces.

The Ukrainian commander emphasized that firing the CAESAR system provides a sense of satisfaction, especially when neutralizing enemy 152-caliber guns, which pose a significant threat to Ukrainian assault units. Destroying such weapons often leads to the detonation of enemy ammunition depots, leading to further chaos and confusion on the enemy side.

Chmykhun's battalion is comprised of highly trained individuals who work with great precision. He also mentioned that the battalion originated from the former 148th Separate Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion, which subsequently formed the basis for the 148th Brigade in 2023.