FT: Due to lack of shells, Ukrainian Armed Forces cut artillery shelling four times

About a year ago, the forces of Ukrainian and Russian artillery were almost equal. But now the situation is again similar to what it was at the beginning of the war.

As a result of the suspension of supplies from the United States and the inability of the European Union to produce the necessary quantities of shells, the Ukrainian army is once again forced to save artillery ammunition.

The inflow of both 155 mm caliber shells from NATO countries and Soviet-style shells, which were supplied to Ukraine by Eastern European countries at the beginning of the war, has decreased.

Meanwhile, Russia, which has shifted a large part of its economy to the military, is increasing production and purchasing shells from North Korea, which has huge stockpiles of Soviet-style ammunition. As reported by the United States and South Korea in the fall, the DPRK could supply Russia with about 1 million shells. Subsequently, experts estimate that supplies could have increased by another 0.5 million.

"There is a real shortage of ammunition," an officer at the headquarters of an artillery brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces told the Financial Times. Ukrainian soldiers on the front line told the newspaper in recent days that they have been forced to save shells, while the intensity of shelling from the Russian side has increased. According to the platoon commander, while during the summer counteroffensive the Ukrainian army fired about 8,000 shells a day, in recent weeks they have to make do with 2,000.

Russia, on the other hand, according to EU estimates, fires about 20,000 shells a day.

The war has become a "battle of ammunition," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday:

"For us to continue to support Ukraine, we need to increase the production of ammunition."

NATO has signed a $1.2 billion contract with defense companies to produce 220,000 rounds of ammunition to supply Ukraine and replenish the alliance's arsenal.

This amount, however, will be enough for Ukraine to use for several months of active use.

"According to military estimates, Ukraine needs 200,000 rounds a month to wage war and be able to stand up to Russia," The Wall Street Journal reports. This is about 6,700 rounds per day.

By early 2025, annual production in the US and EU could reach about 2 million shells; if all of them are used, that's almost 5,500 rounds per day.

Ukraine is trying to increase its own production. This applies to Soviet-style shells. In addition, in December, Kyiv announced that it had reached an agreement with two American companies to produce 155mm ammunition; however, production will begin no sooner than in two years.