Russia produces almost three times more artillery ammunition than the US and Europe. This is a key advantage before the next Russian offensive in Ukraine.
CNN writes that Russia produces about 250,000 artillery pieces per month, or about 3 million per year. Combined, the United States and Europe are only able to produce about 1.2 million projectiles a year to send to Kiev.
The US military has set a goal of producing 100,000 artillery shells a month by the end of 2025 – less than half of Russia’s monthly output – but even that figure is now out of reach as $60 billion in funding for Ukraine has been stalled in Congress. “We are now in a production war,” a senior NATO official told CNN. “The outcome in Ukraine depends on how each country is equipped to fight this war.”
According to officials, Russia currently fires about 10,000 projectiles per day, while the Ukrainian side only fires 2,000 projectiles per day. In some places along the front of more than 1,000 kilometers, the ratio is even worse, according to an official of the European intelligence, the UNIAN agency reported. The troop and ammunition shortages come at perhaps the most dangerous time for Ukraine’s war effort since Russia first moved against Kiev in February 2022. The US and its allies have provided Ukraine with a number of systems, but military analysts say the war is likely will be won or lost depending on who produces more artillery shells.
“The number one issue we’re looking at right now is ammunition,” a NATO official said. “These are artillery shells, because here Russia has a significant manufacturing advantage and a significant battlefield advantage.” The Russian defense industry works around the clock. About 3.5 million Russians now work in the defense sector, compared with 2 to 2.5 million before the war. Russia also imports weapons from Iran and North Korea. Western intelligence officials, however, do not expect Russia to make significant gains on the battlefield in the near future. The long-term math will be in Moscow’s favor if the US does not provide additional aid to Ukraine.
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2024-03-11 10:22:00
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