Was a shortage of Ukrainian ammunition responsible for Russia’s capture of Avdiivka?
At an international security conference in Munich, Volodymyr Zelensky attributed the city’s fall to a shortage of ammunition. In a speech, he also extended an invitation to Donald Trump, likely the Republican candidate in the upcoming US presidential election, to visit the front lines.
Zelensky stated, “If Trump comes to Ukraine, I am prepared to accompany him to the front line.”
The US-based Institute for the Study of War highlighted Russian air superiority as crucial in the success of the Avdiivka operation.
The inclusion of F-16 fighter jets is expected to enhance Ukraine’s air capabilities and potentially alter the power dynamics in the region. This could have notable consequences for upcoming military activities in Ukraine and the existing conflict with Russia.
Artillery has been a dominant force throughout the nearly two-year conflict since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, reports suggest that Kyiv has nearly exhausted its ammunition reserves, currently firing only a fraction of the shells Russia sends daily.
Experts believe this ammunition shortage is hindering Kyiv’s operational strategies along the conflict’s front lines.
“By keeping Ukraine in an artificial shortage of weapons, particularly in terms of artillery and long-range capabilities, Putin can adjust to the ongoing intensity of the conflict,” analysts noted.
The situation has put immense pressure on Ukrainian forces as they struggle to maintain their defensive positions against the relentless Russian attacks.
NATO members have pledged to increase their ammunition production to offer additional assistance.
In a recent development, the alliance signed a $1.2 billion contract in January for the production of artillery rounds, replenishing NATO states’ stockpiles while continuing to support Ukraine. Approximately 220,000 of the in-demand 155mm artillery shells are set to be purchased.
Meanwhile, the US has encountered obstacles in delivering aid packages to Ukraine, as a foreign aid bill, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, faces resistance from Republicans.
This news comes as Ukrainian forces reportedly withdrew from the war-torn city of Avdiivka after enduring four months of intense combat.
The city’s capture on Saturday marked the Kremlin’s first significant battlefield triumph since seizing Bakhmut in May. However, analysts caution that this victory came at a high cost.
“The losses suffered by Russian forces around Avdiivka are immense. My colleagues and I conducted calculations and reviewed our records dating back to the beginning of the year,” stated Dmitry Likhovy, a Ukrainian military spokesperson.
Ukraine’s military has reported that over 17,000 Russian soldiers lost their lives during the capture of Avdiivka in the eastern Donbas region.
Although Ukrainian forces have retreated from the city, they strategically lured the Russian army into a trap.