Reuters: Ukraine receives 420,000 artillery shells since January

Ukraine received approximately 420,000 artillery shells from international partners between the start of 2024 and mid-May, with only 160,000 of those coming from the United States, according to a European security source who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the data.

The figures reflect a broader shift in the international support landscape for Ukraine, as European countries increase their military aid and production capacity while the US role in some areas appears to plateau, Caliber.Az reports per the article. 

According to the Kiel Institute, a German economic research group, Europe has now surpassed the US in total military aid committed since the start of the war, reaching €72 billion as of last month compared to Washington’s €65 billion. It marked the first time since June 2022 that European contributions have outpaced those of the US.

The institute noted that this change was driven by developments in March and April, when no new US aid was allocated and European states stepped up support.

While the US remains the single largest supplier of artillery shells to Ukraine overall, Europe has been expanding its production capacity and sourcing munitions from both within and beyond the continent. Meanwhile, Ukraine itself is ramping up domestic manufacturing, particularly in the mortar segment. Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin said the country produced around 2.4 million shells in 2024, though most were for shorter-range mortar systems.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasised Ukraine’s growing defense manufacturing capacity, saying on July 16 that the domestic military-industrial base now accounts for about 40% of the weapons and equipment used, including drones. He set a target to reach 50% in the next six months.

Kyiv’s push to reduce reliance on foreign arms comes amid concerns about long-term support, especially from the United States. Despite Europe’s increasing role, Ukrainian military analysts say Kyiv remains heavily dependent on Washington in key areas such as air defense and intelligence sharing.

Kyiv is particularly reliant on US-supplied Patriot air defence systems, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles that Russia is launching with greater frequency. As of April 2024, Ukraine had seven operational Patriot systems, far short of the 25 President Zelenskyy has requested, according to the Ukrainian defense publication Defence Express.

Long-range drone and missile operations are also dependent on US satellite intelligence. The European Union Institute for Security Studies has warned that European countries can only partially fill the gap if the United States were to halt its intelligence-sharing.

By Sabina Mammadli