Russia’s artillery ammo usage has significantly decreased due to Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian production facilities, reducing the country’s ability to wage war.
Ukraine’s military chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has stated that Russia has significantly reduced its artillery ammo usage due to the impact of Ukrainian strikes on Russian production facilities. According to Syrskyi, the reduction is a result of Ukraine’s long-range attacks on industrial enterprises that manufacture ammunition and other weaponry.
Ukraine’s Long-Range Strikes Cause Significant Damage
For several months now, the artillery ammunition expenditure rates in the Russian army have practically halved. This is a significant decrease from the previous rate of up to 40,000 rounds per day. Syrskyi attributed this reduction to Ukraine’s attacks on industrial enterprises that manufacture ammunition, missile parts, and other weaponry on Russian soil.
Ukraine Continues to Target Russian Facilities
Ukraine has been carrying out long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities, munitions factories, and ammunition depots across the border. On Tuesday, Kyiv reported its largest attack on Russian targets with missiles and drones, including hits on a fuel storage facility for bombers and a factory that produces rocket parts and artillery ammo.
Russia’s Defense Ministry Fails to Respond
The UK’s defense ministry has stated that at least one of these depots saw the loss of 30,000 tons of ammunition in September. North Korea has been supplying artillery systems and millions of shells to Russia since early 2024. The strain on Russia’s ammo production and reserves is likely significant for the war.
Russia’s Defense Spending Reaches Staggering Levels
To meet the demands of the war, Russia’s defense sector has swelled to staggering levels when considering its total spending. Its defense budget grew from $59 billion in 2022 to $109 billion in 2023. The Kremlin is planning to spend about 13.5 trillion rubles (or about $131 billion) on defense in 2025, which is nearly a third of its entire federal budget.
