russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that the aggressor country's defence industry is increasing the production of high-precision missiles for use against Ukraine.
Source. The report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on 2 May.
"Shoigu highlighted the state-owned Tactical Missiles Corporation as a model defense enterprise, stating that it is successfully beginning mass production of missiles and will develop plans to double its current production output in the near term," the report says.
It is noted that Shoigu's emphasis on increasing the production of high-precision missiles is consistent with the change in russian rhetoric regarding the aggressor's use of these missiles to strike military infrastructure in the rear areas of Ukraine.
"The russian federation is likely aiming to create the appearance of active and demonstratively positive actions amid growing concerns in the russian information space about a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive," the report says.
Western analysts believe that Shoigu is probably trying to deflect the growing accusations that the russian Defence Ministry is unable to provide the occupation forces with enough ammunition.
"Shoigu stated that the russian defense industrial base increased its production pace and output volumes, and claimed that russian forces have received enough ammunition to date in 2023 to inflict extensive damage on Ukrainian forces," ISW reported.
Previously. As a reminder, the founder of the so-called Wagner PMC, russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, threatened Shoigu that Wagner servicemen would leave Bakhmut if the problem with the lack of ammunition was not resolved.