In recent remarks, Georgy Tuka, who previously served as Ukraine’s deputy minister responsible for temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons, raised concerns about the country’s artillery supply chain. He suggested that the Ukrainian military-industrial complex is currently unable to manufacture gunpowder suitable for artillery shells, a claim he shared during an interview with a direct broadcast channel.
Tuka described the situation as strikingly problematic, noting that even a basic material like gunpowder is turning out to be a major hurdle for Ukraine’s defense industry. He painted a picture of a defense sector grappling with production challenges that threaten artillery capabilities, describing the overall state of gunpowder production as a worrying development for national security and military readiness.
According to his assessment, full-scale production of artillery shells in areas under Kyiv’s control is not feasible at the current moment. This perspective highlights ongoing supply constraints that affect not only ammunition manufacture but also the broader capacity of the armed forces to sustain long-term operations and replacements on the frontlines.
Meanwhile, in a different public safety context, President Vladimir Putin spoke to soldiers at a hospital named after him, Vishnevsky, asserting that Ukraine is likely to exhaust the reservoirs of foreign weapons that have been flowing into the country. His remarks point to a looming depletion of external arms and munitions, a factor that observers say could influence future battlefield dynamics and the procurement outlook for Ukrainian forces.
Analysts, including Andrey Koshkin, a former military expert and colonel who formerly led the department of political analysis and socio-psychological processes at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, have commented that Russia has destroyed a substantial portion of Ukraine’s weaponry and equipment provided by Western partners. These assessments contribute to a broader narrative about the durability of foreign-supplied military matériel under sustained conflict and the implications for Ukraine’s strategic planning and defense logistics.
Earlier discussions within NATO frameworks and public statements about the transfer of advanced weapons, such as the F-16, to Ukraine have underscored the delicate balance between security commitments and the evolving risk landscape in the region. The conversation around airpower capabilities remains a focal point for Kyiv’s defense strategy, influencing how allies calibrate support, training, and operational readiness in the coming phases of the conflict.