Russia experiences first confirmed loss of 2S43 Malva self-propelled howitzer following Ukrainian strike.

On April 15, 2025, the first visually confirmed destruction of a Russian 2S43 Malva 8x8 self-propelled howitzer was reported by Jakub Janovsky. Coordinates shared by open-source analysts place the incident at 51.0161554 latitude and 35.5422122 longitude, near the village of Ozerki, in Russia’s Kursk region. While the system’s deployment in Ukraine initially marked a success in Russia's artillery modernization program, this event provided the earliest known visual evidence of the 2S43’s vulnerability in operational conditions.
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The Malva was publicly confirmed to have completed state trials on May 17, 2023, and the first batch of production systems was delivered to the Russian Armed Forces on October 26, 2023. (Picture source: Jakub Janovsky and Russian MoD)

The 2S43 Malva is a 152 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by TsNII Burevestnik as part of the Nabrosok initiative to create modern artillery systems based on a wheeled platform. The system was designed from 2019 to 2023 and entered service with the Russian Armed Forces in late 2023. The 2S43 is built on the BAZ-6610-027 Voshchina 8×8 chassis produced by the Bryansk Automobile Plant and is powered by a YaMZ-8424.10 diesel engine with 470 horsepower. It has an operational mass of 32 tons, can reach a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour, and has a road range of 1,000 kilometers.

Its primary armament is the 152 mm 2A64 howitzer, the same model used in the tracked 2S19 Msta. The gun features a 47-caliber barrel, with elevation angles from -3° to +70° and an azimuth range of ±30°. The system carries 30 rounds of ammunition and is operated by a five-person crew. The Malva lacks a turret and heavy armor to reduce weight, but the crew compartment is armored against small arms fire and shrapnel. Additional defensive features include smoke grenade launchers, camouflage netting, and anti-drone protection elements. The gun is manually loaded using a semi-automatic mechanism and is compatible with the full range of ammunition designed for the 2S19 system, including guided projectiles such as the Krasnopol-M.

The 2S43 is equipped with a digital fire control system that allows automated fire missions and can conduct simultaneous fire raids, a tactic where multiple rounds are fired on different trajectories to strike a target simultaneously. While the standard firing range is 24.5 kilometers using conventional shells, a modernized version of the system has reportedly been equipped with a modified artillery gun based on the 2A36 Giatsint-B, capable of firing newly developed long-range munitions with an estimated range of 50 kilometers. This upgraded configuration has also been reported to include electronic warfare capabilities for drone defense and electronic counter-surveillance.

The Malva was publicly confirmed to have completed state trials on May 17, 2023, and the first batch of production systems was delivered to the Russian Armed Forces on October 26, 2023. A second batch was reported delivered in June 2024, and deliveries continued into the second half of the year. The system was first observed deployed in Ukraine on June 2, 2024, in the Kharkiv region, where aerial imagery revealed it positioned for combat use. Additional sightings occurred later in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, suggesting deployment along the northern sector of the front.

The 2S43 is equipped with a digital fire control system that allows automated fire missions and can conduct simultaneous fire raids, a tactic where multiple rounds are fired on different trajectories to strike a target simultaneously. (Picture source: Telegram/sashakots)

Reports indicate that the 2S43 Malva is assigned to artillery divisions such as the 238th Separate Artillery Brigade and has been used in counter-battery roles and long-range strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, including bridges. Its operational use has been confirmed in various engagements since January 2024. Russian media and defense outlets have highlighted its integration into combined artillery strategies alongside other platforms such as the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV. The 2S35, which is also 152 mm caliber, features an automated loading system, a three-person crew, a firing rate of up to 16 rounds per minute, and a maximum range of 40 kilometers, extendable to 80 kilometers with guided munitions.

The Malva’s deployment is part of a broader shift within Russian artillery doctrine to incorporate wheeled systems, which are generally faster to deploy and reposition than tracked platforms. However, this increased mobility comes at the cost of reduced off-road performance and armor protection. The Malva’s lighter weight, achieved by omitting a full turret and heavy armor, allows for transportability by Il-76 military aircraft and faster road movement, but limits its survivability in contested zones. As such, its tactical use requires consideration of terrain and exposure risk.

Historically, Soviet and Russian artillery has prioritized tracked platforms for their off-road capability and integration with tank units. Efforts to develop wheeled artillery date back to the 1940s but gained renewed attention in the 1980s and 2000s, culminating in the Malva project. Earlier concepts such as the 2S21 Msta-K and A-222 Bereg did not reach mass adoption. The 2S43 Malva represents a continuation of this development trajectory, accompanied by related projects such as the 2S35-1 Koalitsiya-SV-KSh, the 120 mm Floks, and the 82 mm Drok.

Russia’s continued deployment of new artillery systems in Ukraine, including the 2S43 Malva, serves to test operational capabilities under combat conditions, refine design features, and evaluate effectiveness against Ukrainian countermeasures. This approach provides data for further adjustments in production and use, while also highlighting the ongoing modernization of Russian artillery forces. Despite these advancements, the first confirmed loss of a 2S43 system near Ozerki illustrates that mobility and modern features do not fully mitigate risks in contested zones.