Ukraine’s artillery forces heavily reliant on Western supplies, army chief says

Ukraine’s missile forces and artillery remain critically dependent on weapons and ammunition supplied by Western partners, while facing significant logistical challenges that affect operational effectiveness, according to the country’s top military commander.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said the situation is complicated by a range of structural and operational constraints affecting the branch responsible for long-range firepower, Caliber.Az reports.

“I have approved the Concept for the Development of the Missile Forces and Artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which sets out the main directions for developing the capabilities of this branch of the armed forces in the medium term — up to 2030,” Syrskyi said. “We operate one of the widest ranges of artillery systems in the world, use almost all existing types of ammunition, and gain invaluable experience every day in fighting an enemy that outnumbers us.”

However, he stressed that several factors continue to limit effectiveness on the battlefield. 

“At the same time, there are a number of factors that negatively affect the effectiveness of the missile forces and artillery,” he said.

“First and foremost, these include a critical dependence on supplies of weapons and ammunition from partners, complex logistics associated with a large number of different types of systems, the limited range of certain weapons, and a shortage of artillery reconnaissance assets,” Syrskyi added.

By Sabina Mammadli