Ukrainian operations against Russia may be held up over a lack of artillery ammunition and Western assistance, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.
On Monday, a top Ukrainian military official told Reuters about their shortage of 122 mm and 152 mm shells along the frontline. Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukraine’s Tavriisk Group of Forces, said shortages are forcing Ukraine to redistribute ammunition and rethink operations, the ISW Monday said in its latest battlefield assessment.
“Tarnavskyi stated that Russian forces are also having issues with artillery ammunition, although Ukrainian and Western officials have reportedly assessed that the Russian forces are currently conducting artillery fire at a rate five to seven times greater than the Ukrainian forces,” the ISW said.
Russia recently received large quantities of artillery ammunition from North Korea, and Ukraine is searching for more Soviet-era shells, the ISW said.
“Ukrainian forces are increasingly using Western-provided 155 mm artillery systems along the front,” the think tank said. “Possible delays in Western security assistance may impact available supplies of 155 mm shells, although U.S. assistance packages have recently included 155 mm shells.”
Ukraine is reportedly ramping up its line of domestically produced drones to offset artillery shortages and next year intends to work with Western companies to build its supply of 155 mm ammunition, the ISW said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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