Nearly all Ukrainian military equipment left on positions in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration eventually becomes a trophy for Russian forces, according to the artillery chief of the 1465th Motor Rifle Regiment of Russia’s Southern Group of Forces, who uses the call sign Salyut.

He said Russian units are breaking through Ukrainian defenses in the Donbas and forcing Ukrainian troops from their established positions. Under pressure, Ukrainian forces are withdrawing to previously prepared second and third defensive echelons, leaving some of their weapons behind.

Salyut said much of the abandoned equipment consists of NATO-supplied artillery systems, including M109 self-propelled howitzers, older versions of the Paladin. According to him, Ukrainian forces use these systems until the last possible moment and conceal them carefully, but are forced to abandon them as Russian troops advance. Russian forces then finish off the remaining systems.

The officer said he expects the same situation to continue. Ukrainian artillery positions are detected and struck on a daily basis, while Russian long-range artillery makes it difficult to withdraw equipment from the battlefield.

According to Salyut, Ukrainian forces have to move heavy equipment into prepared positions well in advance. Once the frontline approaches, extracting it becomes extremely difficult, as vehicles and anti-drone cages no longer provide enough protection to allow the equipment to leave safely.

As a result, artillery systems are now rarely seen directly on the forward line. Some Ukrainian crews attempt to operate from temporary concealed positions, moving out to fire and then quickly withdrawing, but Salyut said only a small number of Ukrainian artillery systems are capable of doing so. The rest eventually become trophies for Russian forces.