“In 2024, Ukrainian authorities have earmarked nearly $1.4bn to buy and develop weapons at home – 20 times more than before Russia’s invasion,” the agency writes.
It is noted that the sharp increase in Ukraine’s military expenditures occurred against the background of the US Congress delaying $60bn in aid to Kiev and Europe’s attempt to supply it with sufficient ammunition.
AP quoted Ukrainian officials as saying that Ukraine’s production of mortar shells has increased about 40-fold since 2022, while ammunition for artillery has almost tripled. Today, about 200 Ukrainian companies specialise in UAVs – their deliveries in December 2023 increased 50 times compared to December 2022.
At the same time, the agency cites the opinion of an employee of the Royal United Services Institute in London Trevor Taylor:
“However impressive the transformation of Ukraine’s defence sector may be, the country has no chance of defeating Russia without massive Western support. Ukraine is incapable of producing all the ammunition needed for this fight. The delay in U.S. aid is indeed proving to be a significant obstacle.”
It is noted that the sharp increase in Ukraine’s military expenditures occurred against the background of the US Congress delaying $60bn in aid to Kiev and Europe’s attempt to supply it with sufficient ammunition.
AP quoted Ukrainian officials as saying that Ukraine’s production of mortar shells has increased about 40-fold since 2022, while ammunition for artillery has almost tripled. Today, about 200 Ukrainian companies specialise in UAVs – their deliveries in December 2023 increased 50 times compared to December 2022.
At the same time, the agency cites the opinion of an employee of the Royal United Services Institute in London Trevor Taylor:
“However impressive the transformation of Ukraine’s defence sector may be, the country has no chance of defeating Russia without massive Western support. Ukraine is incapable of producing all the ammunition needed for this fight. The delay in U.S. aid is indeed proving to be a significant obstacle.”
Russian military experts have also noted the AFU’s emphasis on drones:
“The only thing the AFU has in abundance are shells for Himars MLRS, which are supplied uninterruptedly from the United States, and various tactical UAVs, whose production is constantly increasing. In fact, this is the basis of the AFU’s defence today.
The conclusions are simple: although Ukraine’s military industry is increasing its output, without supplies from the West, the AFU will not be able to withstand the pressure of the Russian Armed Forces for long.
The key condition for the industry’s operation is energy supply, and the condition for uninterrupted supplies is stable logistics. Without energy and transport infrastructure, no munitions in significant quantities will reach the front.
It seems that the Russian Armed Forces have again taken up the Ukrainian energy system – the strike on the Dnipro hydroelectric power station is a clear confirmation of this. Now the main thing is to bring this matter to its logical conclusion.
Elena Panina
