In Ukraine, artillery has become a defining feature of the war. Both Russian and Ukrainian troops have fired a lot of it, and it has become a symbol of the brutal, attritional fight across the front lines. But the nature of these battles is unlikely to change, and that means Ukraine and Russia will need more and more munitions.
Artillery is sometimes called the “king of battle.” These are the big guns that allow militaries to hit larger targets, frequently at long ranges. The howitzers and mortars or certain rocket systems.
Ukraine has relied on such systems, which the West has supplied. It also relies on the West for a steady stream of rounds: that is, the shells or munitions that launch from these artillery systems. Think those 155 millimeter shells, which look like gigantic bullets. The two-foot-long shells are filled with explosives, so when they land, they explode, with a blast radius that kills.
Ukraine was burning through about 6,000 to 7,000 artillery rounds per day, according to an estimate in March, adding up to much more than the US or Europe is currently producing in a given month. As the war in Ukraine goes on, and looks to go on much longer, the United States and Europe are facing more constraints in their ability to supply Ukraine. Stockpiles are being depleted, reaching a point where to give much more might mean compromising Western countries’ own military readiness.
There are reports that Ukraine has had to cut or limit the use of artillery because it has shortages of munitions. Ukrainian officials have talked about it, and so have Western officials; the so-called “artillery” or “ammunition” diet.
Artillery isn’t the only weapon facing possible supply constraints as the Ukraine war stretches on, but the availability and continued access to shells is likely to be decisive in this war. Both Russia and Ukraine risk shortages, but Kyiv is wholly dependent on support from the West. Supply interruptions could force Ukrainian…
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