‘The Most Expensive Scrap Metal’. How Much Does Enemy Artillery Destroyed by Ukraine This Year Cost.

From January 1 to October 1, 2024, Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 10,373 artillery systems of Russian occupants. This is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 

It is reported that the “darkest day” for the aggressor country's army was September 22, when, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 81 enemy artillery systems.

The Ministry of Defense noted that one artillery battalion consists of 18 artillery barrels, and an artillery brigade consists of 72 artillery installations. Thus, over the nine months of this year, the Defense Forces destroyed about 144 enemy artillery brigades. 

The cost of Russian equipment destroyed this year is at least $8 billion. This is an approximate figure based on information from open sources and average prices for weapons and military equipment on the world market.

Thus, destroyed or rendered inoperative enemy self-propelled artillery systems, howitzers, and guns without prospects of restoration could be considered the most expensive scrap metal in the world.

Russia's expenses on war, land occupation, and killing Ukrainians could have been channeled into addressing domestic social issues. For $8 billion, for instance, the aggressor could have built 13 modern sports arenas or 18 healthcare facilities equipped with the best medical and diagnostic equipment models.

Let's recall, artillerymen from the 14th special operations brigade named after Ivan Bohun of the National Guard, known as “Red Viburnum”, destroyed a Russian Grad multiple launch rocket system along with a full stock of ammunition in the Pokrovske direction. This was reported on Facebook by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. 

Previously, it became known that Russian propagandists draw additional inscriptions on gravestones in photographs to falsely show catastrophic losses in the Ukrainian army during the war.