'We Are Out of Ammo': Ukraine Awaits Aid as Russian Artillery Bears Down

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by starrycommemoration
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Ukrainian officials on Saturday stressed the continued importance of foreign military aid as its forces struggle with shortages amid continued Russian aggression.

Speaking from near the frontlines, Mykolaiv Regional Governor Vitaliy Kim called for more support from U.S. and European allies, VOA News reported. He also indicated that, at least in his region of Ukraine, forces are running low on ammunition.

"Russia's army is more powerful, they have a lot of artillery and ammo. For now, this is a war of artillery... and we are out of ammo," Kim said. "The help of Europe and America is very, very important."

The Mykolaiv region is located in Southern Ukraine and features a small shoreline on the Black Sea. Most of the combat still playing out in the country is concentrated in the Donbas region far to the east, where separatist forces have attempted to align the area with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has, in the past, justified the invasion of Ukraine, stating that his aim is to help supposedly embattled Russian speakers in Donbas.

Ukrainian leaders continue to negotiate with allies over future shipments of weapons. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported on Saturday that he had carried out talks with his counterpart in Poland, Zbigniew Rau, about the neighboring nation sending heavy weapons to the Ukrainian military. Rau also confirmed that the two spoke about new a round of sanctions against Russia.

The Russian military has recently suffered potential munitions shortages of its own, though this may have in fact resulted in heavier damages to Ukraine. Global security sources, including the Pentagon, have reported that Russian forces are running low on precision weapons, leaving them to rely on unguided munitions, also called "dumb bombs."

Using these less sophisticated weapons, Russian forces are less able to carry out precision strikes on military targets. This has resulted in heavier and more widespread collateral damage in civilian areas, particularly in the contested Donbas region.

"The combined use of air and artillery strikes has been a key factor in Russia's recent tactical successes in the region," the U.K. Ministry of Defense wrote in a June 4 update on the war in Ukraine. "The increased use of unguided munitions has led to the widespread destruction of built-up areas in the Donbas and has almost certainly caused substantial collateral damage and civilian casualties."

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.

fragbot2 on June 13rd, 2022 at 02:49 UTC »

Someone's gotta be thinking about this as a solution to the problem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobasna_ammunition_depot

lemons_of_doubt on June 13rd, 2022 at 01:28 UTC »

One of three things can happen, The west can get tired of pouring money on Ukraine, Russia can run out of blood, Or Ukraine can run out of blood.

It's anyone's bet what will come first. The west is generous but fickle, The Ukrainians are determined but finite, and the Russians are ass-hole but not stupid.

It's sad no matter how the war ends the Ukrainians will be left with a ruined nation to rebuild with much of their population lost to a senseless slaughter.

The question is if the Russians will be left with more land emboldened by victory or with less and Putin dead in a ditch somewhere.

24mech on June 12nd, 2022 at 23:24 UTC »

Both are running out of ammo. Both are running on fumes for 122mm , their 152s are also being used at a fast rate. Modern war like this eats up everything at a fast pace.