Ukraine's ammunition supplies have slowed down, Zelensky reveals the reason
The supply of ammunition to Ukraine has "seriously decreased" following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas - according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as quoted by the French newspaper "Le Monde". Ukraine is notably affected by a shortage of 155 mm caliber projectiles. Here's why.
11:51 AM EST, November 17, 2023
"Our supplies have gone down," Zelensky told reporters, specifically referring to the 155 mm artillery rounds.
"This doesn't mean that the US has decided that they are not going to provide ammunition to Ukraine. No! Everyone is just battling for their own supplies," he continued. "That's the reality. I'm not saying it's ideal, but that's the way it is, and we have to secure our own," stressed the president.
The scarcity of 155 mm caliber projectiles is a significant issue for the Ukrainian military. This standard NATO caliber is used in various weapons that Kyiv has received as part of support from Western allies. The 155 mm caliber projectiles are employed in howitzers such as the Polish Crabs, German PzH 2000s, Slovak Zuzana 2s, Italian M109Ls, and French CAESARs. Moreover, the Ukrainians have chosen the same ammunition type for their 2S22 Bogdana cannons.
Zelensky also voiced his suspicion that Russia is stockpiling missiles intending to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the upcoming winter months.
Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian troops in the south, reported earlier this week that there are over 800 missiles amassed in Crimea alone. The majority are Kalibr missiles and P-800 Onyx missiles with a range of roughly 186 miles. In the past few weeks, the Russians are also speculated to have been preserving drones to deploy on a larger scale during the winter.
Zelensky recognized that the recent meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping was "beneficial" for Ukraine.
