Ukraine asks the EU to increase ammunition supplies to 250,000 per month

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has asked the European Union to increase the supply of ammunition to 250,000 artillery shells per month.

Source. This was reported by the Financial Times.

In a letter to his counterparts in the 27 EU member states, which was obtained by the FT, Reznikov writes that due to the lack of ammunition, Ukrainian forces cannot fully utilize the power of existing artillery systems.

The request far exceeds the aid package for Ukraine currently being discussed by the EU, the newspaper notes.

Reznikov writes that artillery plays "a crucial role in destroying the enemy's military power."

On average, Ukraine fires 110,000 155 mm caliber shells a month, he says, which is only a quarter of the amount used by Russia.

If Ukraine did not suffer from an ammunition shortage, it could produce 594,000 shells a month, Reznikov said.

"According to our estimates, the minimum requirement for the successful completion of combat missions is at least 60% of the full ammunition, or 356,400 shells per month," he said.

Background. This week, the media reported that the European Union is preparing a three-point plan to provide Ukraine with the necessary ammunition.

According to Bloomberg, the proposal calls for immediate shipment of ammunition, including 155-mm artillery shells from existing stocks or pending orders, as well as the use of a joint procurement system. The proposal also envisages an increase in EU military capabilities to meet current and future demand for arms supplies.