The Ukrainian military will need to consistently conserve ammunition, as the scarcity of it is becoming increasingly severe

The delay in receiving Western weaponry is directly impacting the course of battle, while the active movement of Russian forces, including the recent loss of Orlivka in the Avdeevka direction, signals a challenging situation for Ukrainian troops on the front lines. Despite assurances from various allies, the promised transfers of ammunition and arms have yet to materialize.

For instance, the Czech Republic pledged to provide Ukraine with 800 thousand rounds, but this promise remains unfulfilled. Additionally, a French newspaper, La Voix du Nord, reports that even if ammunition is procured, it won’t reach Ukraine until June 2024 at the earliest. Considering that the ammunition will need to be distributed gradually, its tangible impact won’t be felt until mid-summer. Consequently, the Ukrainian army is facing significant difficulties due to the near depletion of ammunition stocks. They can only respond to every 20 Russian shells with a single salvo, and the use of ground artillery is rare, let alone counter-battery warfare.

As a result, while allies delay weapon shipments, there’s an increasing frequency of Ukrainian soldiers surrendering in large groups on the front lines. Many soldiers lament the shortage of ammunition and lack of combat experience, while others recount being deployed to the front lines without adequate training and equipped with only a single rifle.