As of: March 13, 2024, 9:15 a.m
By: Momir Takac
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Press
Split
Russia is far ahead of the USA and Europe in the production of artillery ammunition.
However, any advantage in the Ukraine war is doubtful.
Munich – The quantity and type of weapons play a crucial role in deciding an armed conflict.
In the Ukraine war, Moscow is highly superior to Kiev in terms of ammunition production.
This is not only due to the fact that the West's aid to Ukraine is stalling, but also because of Russia's pace in producing armaments.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visits a weapons factory.
(Archive image, taken April 11, 2023) © IMAGO/Vadim Savitsky
Vladimir Putin's regime is said to produce three times more artillery ammunition than Ukraine's Western allies.
NATO intelligence estimates that Russia produces about 250,000 artillery shells a month, or around 3 million a year.
This is reported by
CNN
, citing sources familiar with the West's efforts to arm Ukraine.
Europe and the United States only have the capacity to produce about 1.2 million munitions annually for Kiev, a senior European intelligence official told the broadcaster.
Russia produces three times as much artillery ammunition as Europe and the USA
“We are currently in a production war,” a senior NATO official told
CNN
.
Russia operates artillery factories “around the clock” in alternating twelve-hour shifts, and the war machine is running at full speed.
“The outcome in Ukraine depends on how equipped each side is to wage this war,” he continued.
The USA had actually set itself the goal of producing 100,000 artillery shells per month by the end of 2025.
But this goal has become a distant prospect due to the blockage of funds by Republicans in the US Congress.
Although Russia is highly superior in weapons production, Western intelligence officials do not expect major successes on the battlefield in the short term.
“Russia has impressively managed to increase production in many defense sectors,” Oscar Jonsson of the Swedish Defense University told the
Wall Street Journal
.
He does not believe that Moscow can maintain this pace.
A senior NATO official believes it will be able to do so for another two to five years.
Russia is said to be cheating on official ammunition production figures
There are also doubts about the production figures.
According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank, Russia has a stockpile of around three million artillery shells.
However, many of these are said to be in poor condition and come from old stocks.
“They are exaggerating the numbers,” Michael Gjerstad of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the
Wall Street Journal
.
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According to “RUSI”, domestic ammunition production is also not sufficient to cover the needs of the war in Ukraine.
Russia is therefore still dependent on foreign allies.
Putin sources ammunition from North Korea, Iran and Belarus.
Chemicals and computer chips come from China, it was said.
(mt)