Russia produces three times more shells than US and Europe for Ukraine – CNN
Photo: Associated Press
Russia produces about 250,000 artillery shells monthly, or about 3 million annually.
This is three times more than the amount the United States and EU countries can send to Ukraine, CNN reported, citing NATO intelligence.
According to a European intelligence official, the US and Europe can produce only about 1.2 million shells annually for shipment to Ukraine.
The US military has set a goal of producing 100,000 artillery shells per month by the end of 2025, which is half of Russia's monthly production. However, this figure is currently unreachable due to the suspension of Ukraine's $60 billion funding in Congress.
"What we are in now is a production war," a senior NATO official told CNN. "The outcome in Ukraine depends on how each side is equipped to conduct this war."
According to CNN's sources, Russia currently produces about 10,000 shells per day, compared to only 2,000 from the Ukrainian side. A European intelligence officer stated that the situation is even worse in some areas on the front line.
The text mentions that the US and its allies have provided Ukraine with a range of high-tech weapons, but military analysts say the outcome of the war will likely depend on who produces the most artillery shells.
"The number one issue that we're watching right now is the munitions," the NATO official said. "It's those artillery shells because that's where Russia really [is] mounting a significant production advantage and mounting a significant advantage on the battlefield."
CNN reports that Russia maintains the operation of its shell factories around the clock. According to their data, about 3.5 million people currently work in the Russian defense sector, compared to 2-2.5 million before the war. Russia also receives shells from Iran and North Korea.
According to Western intelligence assessments, the overall resource balance still favors Moscow, especially if the US government fails to unlock the aid package for Ukraine, which Republican members of Congress oppose.
Over the past five years, arms exports from the Russian Federation have almost halved, and France has surpassed it in the arms supplier ranking. Meanwhile, Ukraine has become the largest arms importer in Europe.
