The Ukrainian military is gradually narrowing the gap with Russia in terms of artillery shell usage, thanks to continued support from its Western allies.
Kyiv’s deputy defense minister Ivan Havryliuk informed a local media outlet that the current ratio of artillery fires on the battlefield stands at 1:3.
This means that for every artillery shell fired by Ukrainian forces at Russian positions, the invading forces respond with three.
Havryliuk’s statement marks a significant improvement from earlier this year when a US General disclosed that the ratio was 1:5.
The General further warned that the disparity could increase to 1:10 “in a matter of weeks” if Washington does not find a way to send more ammunition and weapons.
Still Not Enough
The improvements in artillery shell usage came as more Western-supplied ammunition began reaching the Ukrainian frontline in the second quarter of this year.
However, Havryliuk admitted that Moscow still holds an advantage due to its extensive production capabilities.
He emphasized that Kyiv continues to struggle to compete with Russia in this respect, thus it relies heavily on the support of its foreign partners.
“Our ministries, the government, and the leadership of Ukraine are making significant efforts to establish joint ventures so that … we have the capability to produce the entire range of weapons and military equipment that we need,” Havryliuk noted.
Last week, the US announced a new $375-million military aid package for the war-torn nation, which includes additional weapons and artillery rounds.
Several European nations have also pledged to help Kyiv replenish its ammunition stockpiles, either by sending more supplies or facilitating local production in Ukraine.
