Russian forces capitalise on Ukraine's artillery ammunition shortage, reports say
The American think-tank references an analysis from a Ukrainian centre named Frontelligence Insight, dated 1st February (ISW).
As per the claims by Frontelligence, Russian forces have started positioning their artillery more staticly, unafraid of shelling from Kiev forces, in January 2024. This indicates that the Ukrainian army is once again facing a shortage of artillery ammunition.
The freedom to bombard due to the inaccessibility of drones
Frontelligence shared that Ukrainian forces can occasionally attack Russian cannons and howitzers. However, they generally lack sufficient ammunition for effective counter-battery fire. Notably, the absence of Ukrainian counter-battery fire has given Russian artillery the freedom to obliterate cities and villages through bombardments.
The Ukrainian centre emphasised that many Ukrainian kamikaze drones do not possess the necessary range to strike the numerous Russian artillery guns situated between approximately 14.5 to 24 kilometres from the front line.
The challenging decisions for Kiev
The ISW predicts that shortages in artillery ammunition could compel the Ukrainian army to make tough choices. Some sectors of the front will be prioritised, receiving more of the dwindling ammunition reserves, while others, where minor territorial losses are considered less detrimental, might receive less ammunition.
Source: ISW
