Ukraine is running out of ammunition needed for its U.S.-supplied howitzer weapons as Congress delays additional U.S. aid for its military, all while Russia is rapidly beefing up its firepower, soldiers in kyiv have warned.
A Ukrainian artillery team operating an M109 Paladin howitzer said they were forced to start rationing their shells to try to push back Russian forces near Bakhmut due to dwindling supplies.
“We cannot fulfill our tasks 100%, although we want to,” a commander of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade told CNN, adding that he is desperately waiting for more ammunition.
“My team and other teams are just waiting for you and ready to work 24 hours a day,” he said.
The crew ended up receiving a new shipment of ammunition for their howitzer during CNN’s time with the soldiers, but the supply only included four additional rounds, which were non-explosive.
Another Ukrainian commander stationed in Bakhmut acknowledged that Russia’s war economy is rapidly outstripping its allies’ own supplies from Ukraine, and that Moscow is drawing on its Soviet-era reserves as it attacks the border.
A Ukrainian artillery team received four additional rounds for the US-supplied howitzer gun they operate, but the additional ammunition proved non-explosive. CNN Ukraine continues to be bombed by Russia, which has increased its weapons supply over the past year. AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian troops said they have had to ration the use of their M109 Paladin howitzer. cnn
“The ratio is about 10 to 1,” the commander told the outlet in terms of the disparity in ammunition between the two countries’ soldiers. “Russia is a country that produces ammunition and has strategic reserves. Yes, they use old Soviet systems. But Soviet systems can still kill.”
Even the head of NATO pressed that point on Tuesday, warning that the war has become “a battle of ammunition.”
“Increased ammunition production is an absolute necessity to allow us to continue providing support to Ukraine,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement on Tuesday.
“So far we have depleted our stocks, but with the ammunition consumption we see in Ukraine and the needs we see to continue supporting Ukraine, we need to increase production and that is exactly what NATO allies are doing.” Stoltenberg said, noting that the group has signed related contracts worth $10 billion since July.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian Major General Vadym Skibitskyi said Russia was manufacturing up to 130 long-range missiles and 115 short-range rockets each month.
Ukrainian intelligence officials also reported that Moscow had increased its shell production to approximately 2 million shells a year.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is lagging behind, with the Pentagon announcing last month that it sent $250 million worth of weapons to kyiv, the latest batch of U.S. military aid as Congress wavers over whether to approve additional aid.
Ukrainian doctors work to treat a soldier injured by a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv on Tuesday. AFP via Getty Images
President Biden asked Congress in October to approve $61.4 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine as part of a $106 billion emergency funding request, but an aid package has yet to be approved.
The lack of U.S. aid was highlighted in a German intelligence report that warned Russia would take advantage of the disparity to launch an all-out attack on Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Norwegian General Eirik Kristoffersen also warned Sunday that Moscow is increasing its weapons arsenal at a much faster pace than previously anticipated, widening the gap with Ukraine and threatening the spread of the war to the rest of Europe.
Kristoffersen added that NATO must stay ahead of Moscow, which he said has moved into “a war economy” that is being rapidly boosted by allies in Iran and North Korea.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn