The 2S22 Bohdana is a Ukrainian designed 155mm NATO-standard self-propelled howitzer, which has become a key asset in Ukraine’s artillery arsenal. The Bohdana was nearly cancelled and destroyed at the start of Russia’s invasion, but it is now seeing widespread use and success across the frontlines in Ukraine. The latest versions of the Bohdana have a range of up to 42 km, and a rate of fire of around five rounds per minute, underscoring the importance of domestic arms production for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. 

Near-Cancellation

The Bohdana’s development almost ended in 2020 due to legal, technical, and funding issues. When Russia’s full-scale invasion began, the prototype was nearly destroyed to prevent capture but was instead quickly deployed in combat and made headlines after striking Snake Island from the Ukrainian mainland in June 2022. This marked its first major operational success and underscored its value.

Production Surge

The Bohdana first entered production in January 2023. With EU support, Bohdana production has accelerated from around 6 units per month in 2023 to over 20 per month in 2024. Ukrainian officials say output could surge to more than 40 per month with increased funding. The “Danish Model” – where Western funds (including frozen Russian assets) directly finance Ukrainian weapons – has helped, with Denmark ordering 18 Bohdanas in 2024.

Ukraine is also localising production, with about 85% of Bohdana parts being made domestically. Ukraine is aiming for 95% by late 2025.

Variants

The original Bohdana 1.0 was mounted on a KrAZ-63221 6×6 truck chassis and served as the prototype. The Bohdana 2.0 moved to a MAZ chassis, introducing a redesigned armored cabin and offering compatibility with the American Excalibur precision-guided shell, significantly enhancing accuracy. The Bohdana 3.0 adopted the Czech Tatra 815-7 chassis and Puma armored cabin, allowing for improved crew protection and reliability. The Bohdana 4.0 is built on the Tatra 158 Phoenix 8×8 chassis, featuring a locally designed armored cabin by Ukrarmor, and a semi-automatic loading system, which boosts both survivability and rate of fire. The Bohdana 5.0, the latest variant, features a newly designed cabin from the Ukrainian Armor company, mounted on a Tatra T815-7 chassis. The 2P22 Bohdana – the towed howitzer version – is also in production, with the first unit already in service with the 47th Artillery Brigade.

Conclusion

In February 2025, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy suggested Ukraine produced more than 150 Bohdana howitzers in 2024 alone, 22 of which were visually confirmed as destroyed or damaged as of 5 April 2025. While the specifics of the Bohdana’s battlefield impact remain limited, data would suggest more than 100 Bohdanas are currently in service across the frontlines. Ukraine’s rapidly increasing production alone tells a story: not only is the Bohdana a likely success on the battlefield, it also speaks to Ukraine’s resistance and the power of their domestic arms industry. Ukraine is now Europe’s top artillery manufacturer, outpacing all EU countries combined. The Bohdana program could become a model for successful domestic arms production in war time and is likely to remain a central pillar of Ukraine’s defence.