Oleksandr Kamyshin, who was recently appointed by President Zelensky as an external adviser for strategic issues, stated that Ukraine is now producing its own 155 mm artillery ammunition. Kamyshin, who resigned from his position as Strategic Industries Minister during a major government reshuffle on September 4th, told Norwegian media Nettavisen that under his leadership, Ukraine’s production of defense material has doubled and is expected to triple by the end of the year.
Ukraine has been working towards increasing its domestic production of ammunition in order to reduce its dependence on Western partners. In the summer of 2023, Ukroboronprom announced that it had successfully produced 82 mm mortar mines, 122 mm and 152 mm artillery rounds, as well as 125 mm tank shells. However, reports suggest that Ukraine is still heavily reliant on its partners for 155 mm artillery rounds, with hopes to begin producing them domestically in the second half of 2024 at the earliest.
Kamyshin acknowledged that this is a complex process and something that Ukraine has never done before. He stated that he cannot provide much information on the matter, but assured that efforts are being made to achieve this goal. Despite these efforts, the Ukrainian army still relies on supplies from its partners, as European countries have joined forces to purchase 155 mm rounds from outside of Europe. The United States has also opened a new factory to produce 155 mm munitions for Ukraine and has increased production in existing factories.
In conclusion, Ukraine is making progress in producing its own ammunition, but still heavily depends on its partners for 155 mm rounds. Efforts are being made to achieve self-sufficiency, but it is a complex process that will take time.
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