A portion of frozen Russian assets in the EU will fund ammunition supplies to Ukraine within the Czech ammunition initiative, the Czech Defense Minister says.
Czech FM announced that through a Czech-led initiative involving 18 countries, with 15 contributing, 100,000 artillery shells will be delivered to Ukraine in July-August, with plans for 500,000 shells by year-end.
A Reuters investigation uncovers how years of miscalculations and neglect in US and NATO munitions production led to a critical shortage of 155mm artillery shells, undermining Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian forces.
ISW reported even earlier that low Russian morale affected the prospects of Russian offensive operations. However, the report said, "Ukraine's current material shortages may make it difficult for Ukrainian forces to defend against Russian forces — even those that are exhausted and unmotivated."
CNN cites Western officials warning of dire consequences for Ukraine due to munition shortages and delayed US aid, putting air defenses at risk amid intensifying Russian attacks.
Germany has announced a contribution of 180,000 rounds of artillery shells to Ukraine, costing 576 million euros, as part of a Czech-led ammo initiative, bringing Germany's total recent support to over one billion euros, including a March aid package.
Russian forces are intensifying their efforts to expand control northwest of Donetsk city, with a strategic focus on contesting a string of villages including Orlivka, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske.
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Havryliuk reports that Russia's artillery advantage stands at 7:1 in 2024. Additionally, Russian aircraft have dropped over 3,500 air bombs, a 16-fold increase from the previous year.
Western military assistance "critical" for Ukraine to hold territory as Russian forces likely to continue offensives to destabilize Ukrainian defenses this spring & prepare for new offensive effort in summer 2024, according to the ISW's report.
Russian forces retain the initiative and could destabilize previously stable sectors of Ukraine's front line in a short period of time if Ukrainian ammunition shortages persist, ISW reports.
As Russia aims to increase shell production to 2.7 million in 2024 from 2 million in 2023, Ukraine faces severe ammunition shortages which affects Ukrainian army's capabilities on the front line
Artillery shortages and delays in Western military assistance may compel Ukrainian forces to make difficult decisions about allocating resources across various front sectors.
Ukrainian troops are firing no more than 2,000 155mm shells a day, less than a third of the ammunition Russia uses, Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov said. As Ukraine faces a shortage of artillery shells, the Czech Republic pushes the EU to procure ammunition from outside the bloc to meet its commitments to Ukraine.
Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Lt-Gen Ivan Havryliuk stated that France will supply Ukraine with 3,000 artillery shells per month. Earlier, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the delivery of 78 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine by early next year, with the first six arriving soon.
NATO agreed $1.2 billion 155mm ammo buy to backfill depleted ally stockpiles and assist outgunned Ukraine, however the 220,000 shells, subject to delivery lags, may not bolster Kyiv's defense until 2027.
Ukraine's General Syrskyi notes the rarity of battalion-level offensives, influenced by increased drone usage on the battlefield, says Ukrainian troops are on active defense on the eastern front.
Ukraine responds to artillery shell shortages by intensifying kamikaze drone production, focusing on defense industry collaboration with Western companies, as per Deputy Defense Minister.