Ukraine is now producing 40 B2S22 Bohdana artillery systems each month, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, marking a major step in Kyiv’s effort to expand domestic weapons production amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Zelensky said Ukraine has rapidly scaled up manufacturing of the 155-millimeter howitzers to strengthen its long-range firepower and standardize with NATO ammunition.
The Bohdana, available in both self-propelled and towed variants, has a firing range of 40 to 60 kilometers (25 to 37 miles) and is used for long-range strikes and counter-battery missions.
Mass production began in early 2023, increasing from around 10 units per month in mid-2024 to 40 by October 2025.
Assembly takes place across several dispersed sites, including some abroad, to mitigate the risk of Russian strikes.
Each howitzer costs between 2.3 million and 2.8 million euros ($2.6 million to $3.2 million), depending on its vehicle chassis.
‘Serious Result’
Alongside the achievements in Bohdana, Zelensky said Ukraine’s defense industry has expanded “dozens of times” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Domestic production of drones and missiles is expected to reach $35 billion next year, with more than 40 percent of frontline weapons now made in Ukraine, with a target of 50 percent by year’s end.
“We were able to establish the production…with record speed and quality,” the president stated. “This is a serious result. Thank you to the manufacturers.”
Toward Defense Independence
The president added that Ukraine is launching joint projects with Western partners and plans to export platforms in Europe, the US, and the Middle East under a program called “Weapons.”
The program aims to fund further industrial expansion and reduce reliance on foreign military aid by year’s end.
“It is time to launch the export of our Ukrainian weapons — those types of weapons that we have in surplus, and therefore can be exported, so that there is funding for those types of weapons that are especially needed today here in Ukraine for defense,” the president said.
Competing With Western Output
If sustained, Ukraine’s reported production rate is expected to surpass European averages, according to sources.
France’s Nexter currently builds six to eight CAESAR howitzers per month, while Germany’s RCH 155 program remains in limited production.
At 40 units monthly, Ukraine could produce around 480 Bohdana systems annually — several times higher than the average European output.
