**Russia‘s Artillery Advantage Over Ukraine Decreases**
Russia’s artillery advantage over Ukraine has decreased significantly, according to Western officials. The ratio of Russian shells to Ukrainian ammunition is now 1.5 to one, down from a previous rate of five to one.
This decline is due to several factors, including production and transport difficulties for Russia, as well as Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian ammunition depots. Ukraine has also received shipments of Western ammunition supplies, which have helped to level out the disparity.
Despite this decrease, Russia is still using other methods to maintain its fighting power. Officials have reported a “massive increase” in Russian use of glide bombs, which are being used on the front lines with devastating effect.
**Ukraine’s Ammunition Shortages**
Ukraine has struggled with ammunition shortages throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion. The EU failed to deliver on its promise to produce 1 million artillery shells between March 2023 and 2024, while political disputes in Washington led to a delay in a $61 billion aid package.
**Russia Continues to Gain Ground**
Despite the decrease in Russian artillery advantage, Russian forces are still gaining ground in Ukraine’s east. They have seized territory at heavy personnel costs, even as Ukraine narrows the ammunition gap.
**Western Support for Ukraine**
The West continues to provide support to Ukraine. A Ukrainian delegation met with top incoming government officials and aides to President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, while the EU Ambassador to Ukraine announced 25 million euros in funding for Ukrainian non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations.
**War Crimes Trials**
A Finnish court began trial on Dec. 5 for a Russian neo-Nazi mercenary accused of war crimes committed in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2015.