“Ukraine’s nightmare scenario becomes reality”

According to an assessment from the USA, the Ukrainian armed forces are running out of ammunition. Starting this Monday, a huge package will be debated in Washington.

Donbass – The Ukraine war In the winter of 2023/24, it once again turned into a long-range artillery battle. The Russian army is trying to advance with tank groups near Avdiivka in Donbass. However, this has only been possible selectively since autumn.

Military aid for Ukraine: US general warns vehemently about ammunition

Specifically, only where the Ukrainians withdraw in an orderly manner. There Russia Many observers agree that the arms industry has long since switched to a war economy Moscow many more grenades to the front sections than the Ukrainian armed forces receive from the European Union (EU) and the United States for their defensive battle.

In the USA, Democrats and Republicans are fighting over military aid for Ukraine. These expired on December 31, 2023 because Donald Trump's Republicans in Congress are heavily blocking them. Retired US General Ben Hodges said in an interview with Editorial Network Germany (RND) now vehemently warned: “Ukraine’s nightmare scenario is now becoming a reality. The Ukraine has almost run out of ammunition, and Europe and the USA are unwilling to take their ammunition production to a new level.”

Ammunition for Ukraine: Artillery shells are running out at the front

According to the report, the Ukrainians have long had to ration artillery shells at the front. Accordingly, it is difficult to hold some defensive positions. According to the Ukrainian military, the rate of fire in several locations had to be reduced by 90 percent compared to the summer. Which of course plays into the hands of the Russian attackers.

Hodges therefore strongly criticizes the Western partners for their hesitation in supplying ammunition. “Germany can produce hundreds of thousands of cars a year, but not enough ammunition? “That’s ridiculous,” said the former commander in chief of US forces in Europe. In his opinion, the Americans, France and Great Britain also lack “the political will.”

Ukraine is almost out of ammunition, and Europe and the USA are unwilling to take their ammunition production to a new level.

Weapons deliveries for Ukraine: Germany supplies hundreds of thousands of artillery shells

In November, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced the delivery of large quantities of 155 millimeter NATO caliber artillery ammunition – a total of 140,000 shells for 2024. “20,000 additional shells” were already available at the end of 2023. The catch: the Ukrainians need their own information between 2,000 and 5,000 grenades a day to keep the Russian army at bay along the entire length of the front between Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

At the time, Pistorius only promised larger deliveries from the German arms industry, commissioned by the traffic light federal government, for 2025. The Rheinmetall company, which produces the 155 mm grenades, had one at the beginning of December Press release The order of a five-digit number of artillery ammunition from a NATO partner was also announced.

This involves the “complete combination of projectile, detonator (for the explosive charge), propellant charge and primer (for igniting the propellant charge)”. But: “The bullets are to be delivered in the course of 2025,” it continued, and at least the “delivery of around 40,000 bullets (…) is planned for 2024.” Is that enough?

Ammunition for Ukraine: Expert warns of “war economy” in Russia

Christian Mölling from the German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) had already strongly advised the West at the end of November to equip the Ukrainians for a new offensive in 2024. “It has to be said relatively clearly that if we do not help Ukraine and thus continue to endanger our own security, we will probably face the consequences in five or six years,” explained the political scientist on November 26th in the “heute journal ” of ZDF: “Because Russia will reap the benefits of its war economy and will therefore be able to continue to threaten Europe.”

Mölling warned of the West's perseverance: “Russia is playing for time, and Ukraine is not getting what was promised.”

Ammunition and weapons for Ukraine: Democrats and Republicans argue in the USA

The decisive factor will be how much USA Kyiv want to support – or not. On Monday (January 8th) the US Congress will meet in Washington for the first time after the winter break.

The government of President Joe Biden (Democrats) has long since prepared a new military package worth 61 billion US dollars – including plenty of 155 mm ammunition for howitzers. However, the Biden administration has so far been unable to approve the deliveries because there is no parliamentary approval. Despite Hodges' demands. While the Ukrainians in the trenches have to manage rigorously. (pm)