During the first 77 days of 2024, the tactical aviation of the russian Aerospace Forces used as many as 3,500 guided aerial bombs with the UMPK module for strikes against Ukraine.
This is 16 times more than in the same period in 2023. Thus, currently, the russians are dropping an average of up to 50 guided aerial bombs per day.
Read more: Amid Challenges, Six Out of 45 Promised European F-16s Set to Reach Ukraine by June
In the article "Factors Influencing the Situation on the Frontline" for Ukrinform, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk noted this.
Lieutenant General Havryliuk emphasized that breaking the dominance of the russians in the air, which in particular allows the enemy to drop guided aerial bombs on our territory, could be achieved by the arrival of F-16 fighters with long-range air-to-air missiles. But at the moment, F-16s are not yet available, and "stocks of ammunition for certain nomenclatures are falling to critical levels," which complicates the execution of tasks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine also emphasized that currently russian aggressors have a significant advantage in the quantity of available artillery ammunition.
"russia has assessed the current production capabilities of Ukraine and allied countries and is using its advantage in ammunition without significantly reducing the intensity of fire. Since the beginning of 2024, the advantage in artillery fire along the front line is 7:1 in favor of the enemy. In the Kremlin, they calculate that they will have enough ammunition to dominate the battlefield for a long time. This barrage of fire is provided not only by russian factories.
The North Korean regime is assisting the russians with armaments in significant quantities," noted Lieutenant General Havryliuk in his article.
He also emphasized that Ukraine and its partners must find ways to provide the Armed Forces with all necessary resources, despite the current production challenges.
Ukrainian soldiers primarily need air defense systems, aircraft, long-range missiles, artillery shells (especially 155 mm caliber), and modern electronic warfare systems.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that the Unique SM-6 Missile System, with a longer range than the Patriot, has the capability to destroy aerial targets at distances up to 370 km.
Read more: North Korea Sends 7,000 Containers Full of Munitions and Other Military Equipment to russia
