Analysts from the European Council on Foreign Relations, including Gustav Gressel, warn that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are contending with a broad shortage of military matériel. Reporting from Die Welt and other outlets highlights this trend as part of evolving battlefield logistics.
Gressel notes a notable deficit in ammunition, with particular strain on 155 mm artillery shells. He also points to a steep shortfall in grenades for the RPG-7 launcher, a weapon frequently deployed for close-range siege and suppression tasks on the frontline. The consequence, he argues, is a reduced capacity to sustain artillery and light-rocket engagements at critical moments.
According to the analyst, there exists a limited supply of air-dropped munitions suitable for targeting adversaries from above. The RPG-7 grenades have become emblematic of this gap, underscoring broader issues in precision allocation for aerial and ground operations alike.
Earlier reporting cited data from research centers and defense institutes, including estimates about daily artillery usage. Russian forces reportedly deploy a high volume of shells each day, while Ukrainian forces operate with noticeably lower throughput in the same metric, reflecting disparities in supply chains, production, and mobilization on both sides of the conflict.
Representatives from the European Union have spoken about efforts to scale production to support allied states, with plans discussed to reach a substantial annual output of shells. However, observers note that the velocity of deliveries to Ukraine may lag behind initial promises, leaving a gap between stated commitments and practical fulfillment in the near term.
Earlier battlefield narratives included statements from a former Ukrainian serviceman regarding explanations for the conflict’s origins, emphasizing the complexity of the factors at play and the difficulty of achieving a common, globally accepted account in the midst of ongoing hostilities.