Ukrainian Artillerists Work Hard To Maintain Old Howitzers From Estonia 

I am Estonian and I work in a Finnish-Estonian company. At the beginning of the war, we rented a bus and evacuated about 600 refugees from Ukraine. We took tons of clothes and essential goods there, which were collected from Estonia and Finland. Last month we sent 5000 led lamps and thousands of candles. There are a lot of such companies that help Ukraine with their own funds. This is a sincere help, we know how ruthless Russia is. Estonia's contribution to helping Ukraine is great. No need to be ashamed. Slava Ukraine!

I'm from very small Estonian town. Absolutely every time I'm visiting local library, in the evenings there are ten or more woman and men who after workday are making those hiding? camouflage? covers (what is the word for them?), so months and months continuously. It's not comparable to high-tech weapons but I'm quite impressed by their quiet everyday persistence to somehow help Ukraine's soldiers.

Thank you Estonia for the artillery. Thank you Italy for the artillery. And thank you Finland and of course the USA for the shells. Everything helps! Slava Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇬🇧

Estonia has per capita donated many more times the amount of weaponry and humanitarian than even USA. It's just that it is a small country with 1.3 million inhabitants.

Way to go Estonia!! With love and thanks from the USA for the extremely valuable help!! Slava Ukriani! 🇺🇦🇪🇪🇺🇸

I'm glad they liked the Finnish shells. I guess the Finnish army knows a thing or two about artillery since we have such a large artillery force.

I'm a USMC M198 gunner from the 1980s. They may be old, but they work well. In boot camp, our Drill Instructor said to us one day, "What happens if you get killed by an obsolete weapon? You are still dead." Watching these guys, that thing is a luxury compared to a M198. The gunner never had a seat on the M198; the M198 doesn't have a recoil cradle, and the lanyard hooks up to the side instead of the back of the breach. Not to mention the ammo truck they are using; I've not seen that before; our rounds were just tossed loosely in the back of a 5-ton Cargo Truck we rode and lived in and rolled around while the truck was moving.

I hugely admire Ukrainian improvisational engineering skills, and quick attitude to be adaptable! Ukrainian soldiers rock!!💪🏼💙💛🇺🇦 From Florida, USA.

THANK YOU ESTONIA!!!!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 GLORY TO UKRAINE

I'm glad you're having fun with our pieces. Glory to Ukraine from Italy

Radio Free Europe was our mental hope and support back in the days during communist dictatorship in Romania. Thank you Radio Free Europe! Multumesc Radio Europa Libera!

Even though US sends high amounts in money value, many of these smaller countries send a much higher percentage of value! Thank you Estonia and the rest for supporting freedom

Proud Finn here, with love to All there ukraine, Slava

Thank you Estonia for support!

Thank you from East Canada💝🇨🇦💙🇺🇦

Thank you Estonia 🇪🇪 for your kind support of Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥

Estonians are a great people! Aitah Eesti

You guys are doing good work, all the best wishes and an orc free country in 2023! Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🇺🇦✊🏽

A Baltic Beast! Thanks to Estonia! 🇺🇸 🇪🇪 🇺🇦

Good for you Estonians! Greeting from your brothers at north. Ukraine will prevail!

“Orc Free in 23 “Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 all the best from Wales

Those barrels have a lifespan. I hope they wear out all of them, and get more. I wish I could go there with my drone and call in strikes.

Thanks, Estonia!

The mere actions of loading the Howitzer with artillery is incredible physical. The maintain their physical health, mental and emotional health all countries that support them is vital! When the "smaller" countries give, it has a very large impact on the soldiers using their weapons. Thank you Estonia! God Bless you and yours! Slava Ukrayini! Slava Heroyam!

FH 70 was developed in the 70ies by Germany,UK and Italy. In Germany and UK these are already decomissioned but still in service in Italy.After estonian independence Germany sold some of its FH70 to Estonia. The FH70 in ukraine were delivered from estonian and italian stocks. Fh70 has a small VW or Audi-Engine so it can move over short distances without a truck. Japan has built the FH70 under license in large numbers.

Respect To Estonians 👍🏻 SLAVA UKRAINI 🇺🇦 HEROES 🇺🇦 Keep safe and TACTICAL WARRIOR NATION 💪🏻

Every Estonian agrees that Ukraine just saved us from russia for the next 20-30 years. Slava.

Glory to UKRAINE 🇺🇦✌️💓 Glory to HEROES 🇺🇦 Glory to Army force of Ukraine you are the best of all 🌍

Are these the same howitzers Germany tried to stop us from sending? Highest inflation in the EU, no western salaries etc, yet we still send the most aid per capita (Maybe Latvia / Lithuania send more nowadays) and you don't see anyone protesting, we know what's at stake for Ukrainians. Just today there was another batch of aid worth 50 000€ sent to Izium from my small local community, donated by regular people and small businesses. Very proud of how my country has acted this year🇪🇪🇺🇦

Estonians understand the risk here after being under the USSR for so long. SLAVA UKRAINI!

2:38 Finnish shells explode happy when used against russians. That is what they were born to do. :)

Thank you for the artillery, Estonia and Italy! Keep up the good fight Warriors. Slava Ukraine!

Teeny tiny Estonia is helping out.....? That's what's up. They understand what Ukraine is fighting for!

Proud of our Baltic brothers. Greetings from Lithuania🫶

we continue to support Ukraine 🇺🇦🇪🇪

This are good guys. Slava Ukraini!

Congratulations from Germany. Stay healthy and successful.

I’m Estonian and we have such a small country,yet we lend our hands to our friends,cause having been under the Russian invasion,we hate this shit with passion Thank you for every country,who has helped Ukraine with us! Мы люблю вас ❤

Can you imagine not ever giving "Beard" the best work you are capable off. He looks a bit forbidding, but I think it's more he knows what you and the machine are capable of and you don't want to disappoint him. All the information NATO and The EDA are gathering on how the "standard" shells have slight variations and how to compensate. They get valuable insight for the audvthey give.

“God is not on the side of the big battalions, but on the side of those who shoot best.” ― Voltaire. I think this qualifies!

Thank you very much for all the support you have done for Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers will eventually be the absolute elite within NATO, not just because of bravery and tenacity but because they can use every weapon ever made ...

Such incredibly brave and talented soldiers, stay well.

Amazing weapon TY Estonia♥️🇺🇦

Ukranians are not making friendship with all those countries that help them,but Brotherhood.Thank you Estonia,Italy and every country that helps Ukraine.Slava Ukraini!!!🇺🇦💪

With love from Estonia 🇪🇪

When Freemen fight, it's hard too loose. That's the secret sauce.

That’s the thing about NATO weapon systems. Accurate. Lethal. Effective. BUT many require a higher level of maintenance compared to others. Many supporters of Ukraine don’t understand this but constantly demand weapon systems that require massive logistical support to maintenance. Sadly, Ukraine doesn’t have that support infrastructure built up at the moment.

Estonian guns and Finnish shells, that's not a mix i was expecting to see in Ukraine.

Well done Estonia. For a small country, you have been amazing.

Diakuyu for encouraging news, I marvel everyday at the success of Ukraine. All the best regards to you 🙏 Slava Ukrayini 🇺🇦👍 peremoha/y!

Ukraine army is becoming into a ver multifuncional force, capable of using old soviet era weapons and NATO's simultaneously.

41 years ago I was the newbie in my gun section getting ready for our winter rotation to Graf. Learned to make the M109a2 dance there and when the months of long shadows and short days come the shriek in my head that never stops gets really loud. Was just getting over watching 2 generations of this nation's children fight wars that failed my sniff test for necessity as soon as kids were flying kites in Kabul. Haven't been able to not hear the guns since I ets'd April of 86 (was a battery commander of a nuke-capable M109a3s of National Guard when the wall came down and a target analyst with the divisional fire support element of the 35th Infantry (mech) when the stop-loss came with Desert Shield), and watching your nation fighting the war I was trained for; less the intensity of NBC warfare that we were being prepared for in real time has nearly broken my heart. My lips still split when Northwind comes and nostalgia takes me back to the wash rack at Graf watching the ice slide off my GIA (grease, instrument, artillery) coated coveralls while we broke the gravel and mud that the heat our track and road wheels generated had turned into something akin to concrete out of our running gear with a tanker's bar and sledge hammer. The maintenance of the gun sucked the joy from our lives in that weather. Can only imagine that misery coupled with the crimes that Putin has led the Russians to commit against your nation since 2014. Glory to Ukraine. Your nation's courage is a beacon of hope for freedom in these dark time.

They speak open and free ✌🇺🇦🇬🇧.Russian soldiers can not even say one word.

Bless you Ukraine, our hearts are with you.

That's good soldering, knowing your weapon, its limitations and looking after it. Slava Ukraine.

Thanks Estonia and Italy! Slava Ukraini!💙💛🇺🇦🇪🇪🇮🇹🇺🇸

Bravo Ukraine, Keep up the Good Work.

All gunners I see here! In a way I'm kind of jealous of these guys. With so much practice and so many different guns to work with, they must have become the best gunners in the world! I so hope they soon feel the taste of victory and have stories to tell their grandchildren! Slava Ukraini! 🔵🟡

I like these guys. They are professionals and hard workers. The war is brutal, but I actually wish I was there with them. Ukraine is going to win this war. Mark my words. It is going to win.

These incredibly brave soldiers are awesome & dedicated. Much respect & love & prayers are sent to them. Glory to the Ukrainian military. ❤❤❤😊

Respect for all the countries who give help to Ukraine against russian pigs !

The FH70 is probably one of the best artillery pieces ever produced.

Thank you to all you Ukrainian warriors. I know our 'lot' doesn't have a great record when it comes to supporting your 'type' of people, fighting, your type of causes, then, after you have died, AND WON !!!, becoming turncoats on upon you and cut'n'running, but I know, I will do EVERYTHING I can to ensure we don't do the same to you. No matter how this War ends, Ukraine WILL be a member of NATO, and well on its way to being a part of the EU, if it so wishes (The EU not perfect!, none of us are)......... Slava ukraini!

Amazing determination! Slava Ukraine!

Thank you Estonia and Italy for the howitzers. And thank you to the rest of the world who donated ammo. I really love to see the Western World come together to fight Putin and his orcs

British designed. Biggest users are Japan who manufactured about 500 under licence. Some of those provided by NATO countries are 40+ years old. Japan made their last ones 14 years ago, so if they were 'up' for it they could provide a Regiment or two of relatively new guns.

The Baltic states know better than most that defending Ukraine means defending Europe. As an American of Lithuanian descent I'd like to thank Estonia and apologize for the Republicans here in America who think they're "owning the libs" by falling for Kremlin propaganda.

Nice to see the system still serving it´s aim. The Estonian FH-70 were once part of the German Army. Good Job Estonia to bring them here into action and good luck for the ukrainian Artillerists.

You are amazing. We are grateful. God bless you.

Another excellent video RFERL. The Ukrainian resistance is a model of courage. It’s a reminder of why bravery, duty and a willingness to defend your nation are utterly indispensable. Too many of us in the West have grown cynical about these virtues. We in the West have given up on courage. Our safety-first approach to life equates bravery with recklessness. The Ukrainian resistance reminds us why courage matters - and why we all need to rediscover this virtue. 😉

Old IDF saying, "The best field gun is the one with the best crew".

Old or new, Ukrainians MAKE THEM WORK. Well done. Good reporting. Go Ukraine.

FH70 is an excellent gun system!

God bless heroes of Ukraine 🙏🇺🇦🇸🇪🇺🇦

Well done boys keep it going, Happy New Year to you all take care and stay safe, God Bless you all in Ukraine.

Me jätkame teile nende relvasüsteemide saatmist. Слава Украийни!

Proud to be Estonian

My living father, 93, saw combat in Korea with the A674 FA Battalion, 187th RCT, 11th Airborne División. The FA Battalion carried three batteries of four 105mm towed artillery each. He made the US Army’s only two combat jumps in Korea.

This was the first Gun I worked on back in early 80's ; FH 70 . Brings back a lot of memories .

Legends keep up the amazing work guys Infantry depends on you guys

If it’s from Estonia, then it’s old German one. Isn’t it?😊

Hope the PZH2000 will be back on the battlefield very soon. And shame to our Kanzler for not providing Leopard 2 to this righteous warriors. Slava Ukraini, Slava ZSU 🇩🇪❤️🇺🇦💪🏼

Thanks, Estonia

Great Reportage

These videos say a lot. The guns are out on the open, not dug in pits, not covered by camo nets. The officer casually chats with a reporter. There is little or no RU response. It is overcast, which blocks satellite. But, the battery could be seen by drone or radar. Either RU can't see it, or recon can't get the coordinates to arty/air in a timely manner. Or, RU does not have weapons to hit back. RU missiles fly over UKR trenches to hit bombed out apartment buildings that were abandoned months ago.

Ukrainians will have a lot to teach US SF about improvised battlefield interoperability.

De tout cœur avec le peuple Ukrainien ❤️ . Difficile de trouver les mots. Je voulais quand même vous souhaiter une bonne année. Respect pour vous tous.🇨🇵🇺🇦❤️

Good to see this! As a Veteran of both the US and Estonian militaries, I feel that it is good for Estonia to help as much as possible, the Ukraine's Defenders, so long as the Estonian defense capabilities are not compromised by doing so. Slava Ukraine!

The mark of a true professional. Get the job done with the tools available. We need to get them new barrels for those canons. S.T.A.T.

0:49 This is what I wanna hear. I like to hear their opinions on weapons from the Soviet Union compared to newer NATO weapons. I don't wanna hear some nationalist RU-vidr tell me NATO/Soviet weapons are trash and his country has the best weapons. I want honesty. And even if he prefers one weapon over the other, it doesn't necessarily mean one is more or less capable than the other. I want to know what weapons are friendly to their crews/operators.

Been there done that! Love it. Hope you can get your hands on the pzh2000

Ukraine Warrior's 🌻 Artillerist are Heroes !

The famous German 88mm from WW2 had a barrel life of only about 1200 rounds because of the high pressures it used. Modern 155mm artillery has even higher pressures, so expect the gun to need a complete overhaul at about 1000 - 1500 rounds, depending on the charges used. The drop in accuracy being experienced by these gunners may be caused by barrel wear, not differences in ammunition.

I'm still trying to visualise the cleaning rod for that piece.

May Good protect those brave impressive Ukrainian soldiers 🇺🇦❤

God bless Ukrainian soldiers! God bless USA, UK, Estonia, Italy, EU member States and all other countries that support Ukraine!

"Artillerists" is a fancy name used quite widely these days. When I was at the School of Artillery at North Head, Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺 we would respectfully call such military men "Gunners." Infantry soldiers were called "Diggers". But that's Australia for you, it's an egalitarian society, not particularly interested in being snobbish like the British. By the way, most 20th Century gunners are deaf, but the New Milennium has no doubt caused the Top Brass to re-think their priorities, so ear protection is likely provided these days 😉

Slava Brothers stai strong stai save ent kick ther ruski ass respect to you al slava ukrnia from Holland

Utmost respect for these warriors!