Thousands of artillery shells are fired every day during the war in Ukraine – both Kiev and Moscow are facing an ammunition shortage. The Ukrainian troops would ration grenades. To supply the front, alternative ammunition is also produced in 3D printers.
The Ukrainian military proves to be extremely creative when it comes to making war munitions for defense. As the “Washington Times” reports, the country under attack fires about 7,700 shells a day – that’s one every six seconds. According to estimates, Russia even fires three times as many shells per day.
Duds are recycled
Ukraine would save ammunition by allowing the military to be more selective in choosing its targets. Russian equipment would have priority over smaller infantry groups. Precision is key, as every missed shot means a wasted grenade. To make up for the devastating shortage, ammunition is being 3D printed in clandestine, underground workshops in eastern Ukraine. Duds are also recycled to have more grenades available.
Ammunition would be scarce, especially for Soviet-produced systems. However, third countries would help Ukraine by buying Soviet munitions from former Warsaw Pact members and then passing those supplies on to Ukraine. The former Soviet states need not fear political consequences from Russia. But the ammunition obtained in this way also has its pitfalls, the newspaper reported: soldiers had noticed that the artillery ammunition from different countries also had different accuracy.
“Availability of artillery ammunition” as an important factor
The Washington Post suspects that Ukraine may be holding back some of its artillery ammunition for the expected spring offensive. Western allies have recently delivered more artillery ammunition, but less material could be shipped in the fall and winter, military analyst Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute told the paper. So a long war could benefit Russia. “The availability of artillery ammunition is one of the most important factors in this war,” Lee said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
