Ukraine is grappling with a critical shortage of ammunition as it faces off against Russian forces, who are firing 5 artillery shells for every one Ukrainian shell. This disparity threatens the stability of Ukrainian front lines, underscoring the vital importance of US aid. The shortage is attributed to two main problems: a lack of troops and a lack of ammunition, the latter being partly the responsibility of Western support. In response, German arms company Rheinmetall has initiated a significant expansion of its production capabilities. It has started construction on a new facility in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, aiming to increase its 155mm shell production by 200,000 shells per year. The company plans to produce up to 700,000 artillery shells annually by 2025, according to Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger. Despite these efforts, Rheinmetall's CEO has stated that Germany's production alone cannot meet Ukraine's needs, which exceed two million shells a year. Meanwhile, Ukraine has made strides in increasing its own ammunition production, with mortar shell production growing 42 times and artillery shell production more than doubling in 2023. PM Shmyhal anticipates further growth in 2024, even as Europe struggles to fill Ukrainian artillery shell orders within a year.
🚀 Ukraine's PM announces "huge advance" in ammo production https://t.co/eon02ShoYY
It takes Europe at least a year to fill a Ukrainian order for artillery shells | via @samuelskove https://t.co/fjERzwgAyg
⚡️PM Shmyhal: Ukrainian ammunition production grew significantly in 2023. The production of mortar shells increased 42 times in 2023, and artillery shells production more than doubled. The prime minister said he expects even more growth in 2024. https://t.co/r19zClADt4
#Rheinmetall: German Munition Production Cannot Match Ukraine’s Needs Alone The CEO of Germany’s largest arms manufacturer has said that Ukraine needs more than two million shells a year, a number that Germany’s production capabilities alone cannot match. https://t.co/NBoDFrzCF8
🚀 Rheinmetall: Ukraine's ammunition needs exceed Germany's production capacity https://t.co/UgqGwgTqNR
🦾 Rheinmetall starts building plant to produce artillery shells: Ukraine will receive hundreds of thousands https://t.co/YnsAV15dSy
Arms company Rheinmetall is massively expanding its production capacity for artillery shells. In 2025, it plans to produce up to 700.000 artillery shells per year, Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger said. https://t.co/Hhob8CzYoP
Rheinmetall to increase 155mm production by 200,000 shells per year Rheinmetall (🇩🇪) has broken ground on a new facility at their Unterlüß site in Lower Saxony. They hope it will be operational within 12 months, at which point production will be 50,000 shells/year. In the 2nd… https://t.co/ldQq3tIGud
Ukraine faces an alarming shortage of ammunition: Russian forces are firing 5 artillery shells for every shell fired by the Ukrainians. If this disparity is not addressed soon, Ukrainian front lines might crumble. That is why US aid is so critical. https://t.co/sDKoyug4MA
Ukraine confronts two fundamental problems: a shortage of troops and a shortage of ammunition. The former shortfall is Ukraine’s own doing. The shortage of weapons, by contrast, is the West’s fault. https://t.co/sDKoyug4MA