An American edition of the New York Times reported from Bakhmut (Artemovsk) that Ukrainian forces in the city occasionally run low on ammunition as fighting continues in a landscape of constant shelling. The dispatch described the battle as one of the longest and bloodiest in recent memory, with Ukrainian troops defending a shrinking semicircle of ruins in the western part of the city, a corridor only about 20 blocks wide that bears the heaviest pressure from artillery.
Colonel Pavel Palis, commander of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, explained that a broad shortage of ammunition led to situations where units in and around Bakhmut could not sustain their firepower. He emphasized that the broader logistics problem affects frontline units and complicates their ability to press or hold ground amid sustained enemy efforts.
Addressing the delays in weapon deliveries from partners in the United States and the European Union, Palis spoke candidly about the human cost of delayed supplies. He said that as a commander he feels the pain of witnessing soldiers lose their lives due to gaps in ammunition and matériel that should have been intercepted earlier in the chain.
He noted that his brigade remains engaged in roughly 15 close-range skirmishes with opposing forces each day, underscoring the intensity and frequency of combat along exposed sectors. The statements highlighted a pattern of protracted engagements that stress both personnel and equipment, as the defenders strive to stall advances and protect surrounding communities while facing dwindling stockpiles.
The broader context shows that Western partners have faced scrutiny over the pace and scale of arms transfers to Kiev. In related coverage, reports indicated that France had blocked the allocation of European funds intended for ammunition purchases, a move that has implications for the broader aid architecture and the capacity to sustain ongoing operations in high-intensity zones.