Three important news have been released today regarding the supply of the Ukrainian forces with much-needed artillery ammunition in both NATO caliber 155mm and traditional 152mm. Editor's note: the publication was delayed due to a typesetting error, our sincere apologies.
First of all, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, who has been leading the Ukrainian counteroffensive on the southern front as the Commander of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group, said the shortage of Soviet-caliber ammunition forces the army to "replanning tasks that we had set for ourselves and making them smaller because we need to provide for them," as quoted by Reuters.
Read more: Germany Buys 155mm Ammunition For Ukraine EUR 4,000 Apiece
He added that Ukrainian soldiers have gone on the defensive while trying to keep attacking in some other areas.
Secondly, there are some promising news about the unfolding production of artillery ammunition. ArmyInform reports that in 2024, "enterprises of Ukraine and certain partner countries will jointly manufacture 155mm ammunition in quantity that will be able to mostly cover the difference between the demand and the amount of aid provided by partners."
Basically, that means the deficit of Soviet calibers will be partly compensated with NATO-caliber ammunition. At the same time, Havryliuk notes that "we keep increasing our own internal ammunition production of all types of shells from the former Soviet Union."
Thirdly, the European Defense Review writes that on December 18th, 2023, the German Bundeswehr ordered from Rheinmetall delivery of "several tens of thousands shells of various types" for the Armed Forces of Ukraine throughout 2025, expanding the previously concluded contract. "The order is worth a three-digit million euro amount," the authors add.
Earlier Defense Express noted that Rheinmetall is currently so busy with ammunition contracts that Germany also turned to a French company with an offer, buying 155mm shells for Ukraine at a price exceeding €4,000 each.
Read more: Ukraine Should've Made "Mountains of Ammunition," Ben Hodges Says, But Was It Physically Possible?
