28.12.2022

Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP

The “Hunger” for artillery ammo, which began to catch up with the Russian army at the end of August, worsened significantly in December. Ammunition warehouses are being depleted, there is nowhere to import Soviet-style shells from, and the defense industry cannot cope with orders.

This was written by the Telegram channel “Spy’s Dossier “. It is noted that in early December, the commanders of artillery units of the RF Armed Forces were even ordered to collect spent 152-mm caliber casings so that they could be reused.

“There is an interesting nuance in a recent video that has circulated around the Internet, in which two servicemen of the Wagner PMC call the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov “f*ck for nothing”. PMCs consider Gerasimov a representative of sexual minorities due to the lack of artillery shells among the military,” says the message.

It is noted that artillery ammo “hunger” is a problem for both warring armies. But if the Armed Forces of Ukraine manage to solve this problem, primarily through constant Western assistance and a gradual transition from Soviet 122-mm and 152-mm caliber guns to NATO 155-mm caliber, then the Russians will be worse off.

“In addition to the Soviet 122-mm and 152-mm calibers, 155-mm cannons appeared in the arsenal of the Ukrainian army. Despite this, something still manages to be found. If you look at the latest package of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States, among other things there are 45,000 152 mm artillery shells, 20,000 122 mm artillery shells, and 50,000 122 mm shells for Grad systems. According to a report by the US Department of Defense, more than 1 million artillery shells of various calibers were transferred to Ukraine by the end of November.” writes the author of the Spy Dossier channel.

At the same time in Russia, according to him, the stock of shells, which by the beginning of the war was estimated as “approximately endless”, began to dry up at the end of August 2022. A significant role in this, in addition to stubborn artillery duels, was played by the use of MLRS HIMARS by Ukraine. Having the appropriate intelligence and satellite images, the Armed Forces of Ukraine each time managed to hit artillery depots deep behind enemy lines, reducing the firepower of the RF Armed Forces.

“In addition, there are questions about the quality of the ammunition itself. More than one document passed through my hands, with complaints from the chiefs of artillery units about the unsuitability for the use of shells. Ammunition that was stored in warehouses for decades simply “outlived its usefulness,” the report says.

It is noted that due to the inability to purchase shells abroad, the leadership of the Russian Federation is mobilizing the mass production of the necessary ammunition within the country, but the defense industry cannot cope with the orders.

“The problem is so tangible that in early December, the commanders of the artillery units of the RF Armed Forces were tasked with taking personal control over the organization of the return of spent 152-mm caliber cartridges so that they could be reused,” concludes the author of the Spy’s Dossier channel.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that a mega-scandal broke out in the military leadership of Russia: the gunners of the PMC “Wagner” obscenely insulted the Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces Gerasimov due to the lack of shells, and the owner of the PMC, Prigozhin, confirmed the authenticity of the appeal and added that he would “force” Gerasimov to act.

https://war.obozrevatel.com/vo-vtoroj-armii-mira-nachalsya-artillerijskij-golod-voennyim-prikazali-sobirat-otstrelyannyie-gilzyi-ot-snaryadov.htm?_gl=1dupbnj_gaMTE5NTkzNzA2OS4xNjcyMjU3NTIy_ga_JBX3X27G7H*MTY3MjI1NzUyMi4xLjEuMTY3MjI1ODUzNi4xOS4wLjA.