Ukrainian Armed Forces face artillery shells shortage due to aid reduction
Ukraine's Armed Forces are facing a shortage of artillery shells due to aid reduction (Getty Images)
Ukrainian soldiers on the front line are facing a shortage of artillery shells amid a reduction in aid from allies, according to the commander of the Tavria Operational Strategic Group, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi.
The problem is most acute with post-Soviet shells:
- 122-mm;
- 152-mm.
In particular, the shortage is felt along the entire front line.
"The volumes that we have today are not sufficient for us today, given our needs. So, we're redistributing it. We're replanning tasks that we had set for ourselves and making them smaller because we need to provide for them," Tarnavskyi says.
Exhausted Ukrainian soldiers on the southeastern front, according to the commander of the Tavria Operational Strategic Group, have switched to defense in some areas, but are trying to attack in others.
"In some areas, we moved (to defence), and in some we continue our offensive actions - by manoeuvre, fire and by moving forward. And we are preparing our reserves for our further large-scale actions," Tarnavskyi explains.
Russia is changing tactics
According to the commander of the Tavria Joint Task Force, Russia's intentions remain unchanged. The only thing that is changing is the tactics. The situation in Avdiivka is changing "every day and every night". The Russians regularly change their tactics, having achieved "partial success in some areas at a depth of about 1.5 to 2 km.
"I believe that we are firmly maintaining these lines today," he said. "Today, the enemy is pressuring us with their numbers. They have never cared and will not care for their personnel," Tarnavskyi says.
Ammunition for Ukraine
In May of this year, the EU Council approved a decision to assist Ukraine with joint purchases of ammunition and missiles. It is planned to provide our country with 1 million rounds of ammunition.
On September 5, the European Defense Agency (EDA) signed the first contracts for the joint purchase of artillery shells. EU members will purchase universal shells for the most common artillery howitzers: French Caesar, Polish Krab, German Panzerhaubitze 2000, and Slovak Zuzana.
In particular, in December, it was reported that Finland might start producing artillery ammunition for Ukraine.
