The shortage of shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine was caused by mistakes and miscalculations by NATO countries before the start of the war in 2022 – Reuters reported

The shortage of ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) is attributed to mistakes and miscalculations by the US and other NATO countries prior to the 2022 invasion.

This information reported by Reuters.

Decisions that were not made by the West from 2014 to 2022 to sharply increase ammunition production in case of need played a much more significant role in creating the ammunition deficit than the few months’ delay in US Congress approving military aid to Ukraine earlier this year.

The agency cites US, NATO, and Ukrainian officials, as well as open sources, concluding that by the mid-2010s, ammunition production had fallen so much that the US could not replenish its arsenals with new munitions for a year and a half. In 2021, production was cut in half due to defects.

Currently, the US produces about 36,000 155mm shells per month. Experts and military personnel consider this quantity insufficient. In 2023, Ukraine received about 2 million shells from allies, allowing it to fire up to 10,000 artillery rounds per day. However, in 2024, supplies are expected to drop by half, which is already affecting the front lines.

Meanwhile, in Europe, ammunition production is increasing at a faster pace than in the US, where it is unlikely to meet the target of 100,000 shells per month by the end of next year.