About ammunition
Supreme Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a statement: "For the first time in the years of war, none of the brigades complains that there is no artillery shell. And this has been happening for the last two months."
These words stunned most of the military at the front, as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was deliberately misled by someone in his entourage, and he repeated someone else's words without knowing the real situation.
That is why I am informing Volodymyr Zelenskyy about what is really happening.
Firstly, the brigades do not complain because, apart from problems with the leadership, these complaints do not bring anything to the brigade commanders.
Secondly, artillery is currently supplied with 155mm shells only in certain areas, in particular in the northern Kharkiv region. Here, the 155mm calibre works. But in other parts of the frontline, the 155mm calibre is also limited, and it is not possible to carry out all the necessary fire missions with these guns. A particular problem is that there is a very limited supply of shells for counter-battery operations, and there is a severe shortage of 155 mm calibre for these tasks.
Thirdly, the supply of most artillery and mortar calibres is far below the requirements. The supply of 152 mm and 122 mm howitzers, 125 mm cannons, 120 mm, 82 mm, 81 mm, and 60 mm mortars, which are the main weapons of most infantry brigades, is scarce and unsatisfactory. There is a clamant shortage of these calibers in all areas, including in the northern Kharkiv region. A significant number of units receive 10-20 units of ammunition for artillery and mortars per day.
Fourthly. The army is acutely lacking all types of ammunition. There is also a problem with the distribution of this ammunition. Some individual brigades trying to provide quality combat training are forced to buy even 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm ammunition, as well as many other types of ammunition, at their own expense and that of volunteers. A significant number of military units are forced to organize their own ammunition production at their own expense and volunteers' expenses.
Yurii Butusov, Censor.NET
