Having used many of its Soviet-made artillery shells, Ukraine is largely reliant on the West. But allies are struggling to keep up with demand
7 countries pledged to build up Ukrainian armed forces with air defence, artillery and other heavy equipment over the long term. On July 18th Ukraine’s allies wrapped up a meeting that focused, in part, on ramping up the production of munitions in the shorter term. These talks come amid concerns that allies are struggling to keep up with Ukraine’s needs.
For instance, Russia had 3,417 tanks before the war; Ukraine had 987, with its allies delivering a further 471 and pledging 286. When those numbers, which include pledges yet to be fulfilled, are tallied, Ukraine’s total is just over half Russia’s starting figure. The gulf in stocks of other heavy weapons, like howitzers and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems , is similarly wide. The disparity makes the resilience of Ukraine’s forces all the more remarkable.
Could Ukraine’s allies do more? The heavy weapons they have given and promised represent just a small portion of the West’s collective arsenal. The Kiel Institute suggests thatMLRS