There’s a saying in the military, “If it’s senseless, but it works, it’s not senseless.” Often this refers to makeshift weapons and ammunition. Having to wait for a long time for Ukrainian industrial weapons and Western armament models to arrive, the volunteers and engineers have started to produce and improve the existing types of weapons. One of these is a makeshift ‘Guerrilla Grad’ multiple rocket launcher mounted on an off-road vehicle. Many artillery units are now actively using it. Among them are the artillery operators of the Aidar Battalion fighting outside the city of Bakhmut.

This makeshift modification of the Grad has certain advantages over the standard variant. The cost of converting a civilian SUV into a multiple rocket launcher is only 160 thousand UAH.

The Guerilla Grad has a range of up to 25 kilometers (15.5 miles). It also has high target destruction accuracy, even compared to the standard Grad.

Low visibility and high speed. The vehicle quickly approaches the line, stops a short distance from it, fires at the target, and leaves the dangerous position rapidly. And it is not a target large enough for the enemy to spend significant resources to destroy it.

By hitting targets and positions far from the front line, the Guerilla Grad has a significant psychological impact on the enemy and keeps them strung up.

The Guerilla Grad: Getting Ready

Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar batalion, Soldiers get ready to load standard Grad missiles into the launcher guides of the volunteer-built
Guerrilla Grad.
Soldiers get ready to load standard Grad missiles into the launcher guides of the volunteer-built Guerrilla Grad.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar batalion, The fuses are screwed on to the front of the Grad missiles just before the team leaves for a combat
mission.
The fuses are screwed on to the front of the Grad missiles just before the team leaves for a combat mission.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Soldiers with Veselyi and Artek call signs load a Grad missile into the launcher guides of the makeshift Guerilla Grad.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar batalion, soldiers load detonator to rocket into handmade MLRS. Veselyi screws fuses on to the front of the missiles and checks everything before leaving for a combat
mission.
Veselyi screws fuses on to the front of the missiles and checks everything before leaving for a combat
mission.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The Guerrilla Grad sets off on a combat mission.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar batalion, exploded artillery SAU on the road, Andriy Dubchak. A Ukrainian self-propelled artillery vehicle is seen blown up on the road to Chasiv Yar. The Russians
frequently attack this area with their Lancet kamikaze drones.
A Ukrainian self-propelled artillery vehicle is seen blown up on the road to Chasiv Yar. The Russians frequently attack this area with their Lancet kamikaze drones.

The Guerilla Grad Fires

At the firing position, everything happens very fast because the enemy drones can track the car and transmit the coordinates for an enemy artillery strike or an attack with the Lancet kamikaze drones, which are often sent to the rear of the Ukrainian positions for this very purpose—to destroy the long-range artillery.

The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The soldiers fix the car in place with the retractable feet to improve firing accuracy.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Meanwhile, Veselyi aligns the Guerilla Grad on the target by working with the aiming circle.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, soldiers set up the homemade Grad MLRS . The first shot is usually a spotting shot. The subsequent shot hits the target accurately, although
sometimes, they can hit it even with the first shot.
The first shot is usually a spotting shot. The subsequent shot hits the target accurately, although sometimes, they can hit it even with the first shot.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Artek prepares the foundational setup for the shot.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, soldiers setup the bus near homemade Grad MLRS and ready to fire to russian position, Andriy Dubchak, Veselyi makes the final preparations, and then everyone takes cover and waits for the commander to
give the order over the radio.
Veselyi makes the final preparations, and then everyone takes cover and waits for the commander to give the order over the radio.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, Grad Partizan fire rockets to the russian position. The commander gives the green light. After the order to fire, the wired remote control activates the
rocket motor. The missile hisses and flies toward the Russian positions 20 kilometers (12 miles) away.
The commander gives the green light. After the order to fire, the wired remote control activates the rocket motor. The missile hisses and flies toward the Russian positions 15 kilometers (9 miles) away.

A drone hovers over the Russian positions. It records the location of the missile hit and transmits this data to the commander at the base. It sends the data back to the team of the combat vehicle via a secure channel.

The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The soldiers wait for the information about the result and the adjustments from their commander.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, Grad Partizan fire rockets to the russian position, comander Chichen control the result. The unit commander with the call sign Chychen uses drone footage to monitor the precision of the
strikes against the enemy.
The unit commander with the call sign Chychen uses drone footage to monitor the precision of the strikes against the enemy.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
After receiving the adjustments from the commander, Veselyi adjusts the Guerilla Grad to hit the target even more precisely.

The Guerilla Grad is designed to have three launcher guides. But in a previous mission, one of the guides was torn off during firing. Therefore, the system now fires only two shots until an additional guide is reinstalled.

Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, Grad Partizan, soldiers run to escape. The second shot—and everyone runs to the Guerilla Grad to switch it to the moving mode. They have
to leave immediately.
The second shot—and everyone runs to the Guerilla Grad to switch it to the moving mode. They have to leave immediately.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
In the next minute, we leave the positions that may come under fire.

The commander, Chychen, is waiting at the base. When he sees us taking a picture of him in shorts, he laughs and says people will be making fun of him. But that’s part of life here. It’s a blistering hot summer, and combat activity is a daily occurance. There is just no time for formalities. You have to keep fighting and live fast.

Chychen informs the team that they have hit the target. Everyone is happy to hear that.

The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Veselyi and Chychen tease each other.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, call-sign Grek with non stop drink. The Guerrilla Grad's operational activity and combat missions run without stopping if necessary. Artek
drinks a Non Stop Energy Drink and makes a joke about this.
The Guerrilla Grad’s operational activity and combat missions run without stopping if necessary. Artek drinks a Non Stop Energy Drink and makes a joke about this.

Talking with Hrek, I ask, “How do you feel when you know you have hit the target?”

He gives me an honest answer.

“You feel euphoric when you hit it. But let’s call things by what they are: basically, you’re happy because you just killed someone…. But they are the ones who invaded us! So we’re doing the right thing. And there’s no need to think too much about it.”

The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Hrek’s patch reads: “We’ll bust the fuck out of them!”
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The soldiers load a new batch of missiles into the Guerilla Grad.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The unit is very friendly and professional, with positive vibes. Everyone knows what they are doing. Everyone is a volunteer.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The Guerrilla Grad is loaded and ready for a new combat mission.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion, cook borsch food on the frontline. While waiting for the information about new targets, we eat delicious borscht cooked by Moriak,
whose call sign— 'Sailor’—refers to his time serving in the Navy.
While waiting for the information about new targets, we eat delicious borscht cooked by Moriak, whose call sign—’Sailor’—refers to his time serving in the Navy.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Between combat missions, Hrek repairs the running gear of one of the unit’s SUVs.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion,  soldiers rest and smoke, Andriy Dubchak. And then there are smoke breaks when you can sit down, smoke a cigarette, and talk about combat
missions or just about life.
And then there are smoke breaks when you can sit down, smoke a cigarette, and talk about combat missions or just about life.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
There’s also a sports ground and a barbell. Someone is always lifting it. Good physical condition is important in war.

Soon, information comes that a new target has been spotted, and the commander gives the order to engage and fire. The unit gets ready in a few minutes and sets off. I stay at the base with the commander and the reconnaissance pilots.

The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Artek burns rubber as the Guerrilla Grad leaves for another combat mission.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
I remain with the unit commander, Chychen, and the reconnaissance team, which adjusts the fire of the Guerilla Grad and their unit’s other artillery detachments—mortars, howitzers, and other artillery.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Drone footage is streamed to the monitors in real-time. The photo shows the entrance to Bakhmut. Right here, in the center, a well-known aircraft monument used to stand.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
In the drone images, Bakhmut looks poignant. The city is completely destroyed. The once lively neighborhoods have turned into scorched earth.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
We see Russian soldiers moving in real-time. In the middle of the photo is a figure of a Russian soldier walking down the street. But shooting artillery at a single moving target like this is not effective. Artillery strikes groups of infantry, positions, or equipment.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
I talk with the commander for some time, then the Guerilla Grad reaches the firing position, and Chychen begins coordinating its work.
Donbas Frontliner, Ukraine war, artillery grad Partizan, Aidar battalion. A female cat named Sobaka (‘Dog’) has been lying next to us the whole time. The guys from this unit
have found her shell-shocked in Bakhmut and brought her with them. Now she has two kittens.
A female cat named Sobaka (‘Dog’) has been lying next to us the whole time. The guys from this unit have found her shell-shocked in Bakhmut and brought her with them. Now she has two kittens.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The Guerilla Grad has successfully fired on the Russian positions deep in the rear of the enemy defenses and can now return.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
The Guerrilla Grad returns from another combat mission.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Some soldiers have gone to another place where they are stationed. It is too dangerous to live all together. A large contingent is easy to detect and attack.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Moriak cooks ground beef pasta for dinner.

For dinner, we have ground beef pasta cooked by Moriak (delicious!). Then we thank the soldiers and the commander and go home.

The evening is quiet and warm. There would have been no thought of war but for the regular sounds of artillery in the distance.

The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
On the one of villages to way home, we meet young women returning from swimming in the river.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
A stop at the river where the locals enjoy their time, fishing to the distant sounds of artillery.
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
One of the fishermen shows us his catch—some nice little crucian carp. Summer. Normally it is the time of rest. But the summer of 2023 is the time of war….
The Aidar Battalion’s Guerilla Grad, a Makeshift Multiple Rocket Launcher. War and SummerOutside Bakhmut: A Photo Report
Chuck with Sobaka, a Bakhmut rescue cat, in a garage next to the Guerrilla Grad missiles.

Text, photos, and video: Andriy Dubchak

Follow us: InstagramFacebookTwitterYouTubeTelegram