- Ukraine’s ammunition shortage is being exploited by Russia, with a daily firing rate of 10,000 shells compared to Ukraine’s 2,000 rounds.
- The lack of ammunition has severely impacted Ukraine’s war effort, forcing them to sacrifice long-term strategy and prioritize targets carefully.
- Russia’s advantage in artillery ammunition has grown stronger, with an endless supply of Soviet weaponry and North Korean ammunition, while Ukraine’s Western allies have been slow to provide assistance.
Additional Coverage:
- Short on ammo, Ukrainian artillerymen can’t fire on a hunch anymore. They have to know the Russians are there. (businessinsider.com)
Ukraine is facing a shortage of ammunition, which Russia is exploiting to its advantage. While Ukraine is only able to fire 2,000 rounds a day, Russia is firing 10,000 shells daily. This shortage has forced Ukraine to carefully prioritize its targets.
The ammunition struggles have severely impacted Ukraine’s war effort, causing the country to sacrifice long-term strategy for short-term certainty. Russia has had the upper hand in artillery ammunition since the war began and this advantage has only grown stronger in recent months. Ukraine is struggling to gain an edge against Russia’s increasing momentum.
The discrepancy in ammunition supply is due to Russia’s seemingly endless supply of Soviet weaponry and the influx of North Korean ammunition. Russia has also ramped up future ammo production while Ukraine’s Western allies have been slow to provide assistance.
Although Ukrainian leaders have emphasized the need for more supplies, Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that the country will not completely run out of ammunition. However, the dwindling numbers mean that Ukraine is forced to prioritize its targets. Initially, they are refraining from firing at suspected Russian targets, and are only firing at known positions.
Ukraine’s current supply of ammo allows them to only target direct and confirmed threats, hindering their long-term capability. They are conserving shells solely for the purpose of warding off the Russians. The lack of artillery suppresses the enemy and limits Ukraine’s ability to maneuver and retake territory.
Both Russia and Ukraine heavily rely on artillery due to old Soviet war doctrine. Russia, in particular, uses overwhelming amounts of artillery to combat Ukraine’s defenses.
As Ukraine grapples with its ammunition shortage, Russia is escalating its attacks with increasing frequency. They have restarted offensive attacks and replaced troops and stockpiles.