Israeli forces are at war with Hamas, Ukraine is at war with Russia, which invaded their country. Both wars are intense, brutal and require the attention of the international community. However, while the US said that their support for Israel is not going to affect the support for Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine found it to not be true.
The US supply of NATO-standard artillery shells to Ukraine has dropped by “more than 30%” since Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip began, ABC News reports. It is emphasized that 155 mm artillery shells are perhaps the most important ammunition of the Ukrainian forces in the war against the Russian occupiers.
However, some of the US reserves allocated to Ukraine have now been diverted to Israel. US officials have said several times in recent weeks that supplying Israel with ammunition will not affect the war in Ukraine, but that appears to be the case.
Ukraine relies on 155 mm ammunition, which is standard in NATO artillery. Image credit: Operational Command “West” via Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)
“They said it wouldn’t affect their commitments, but it has,” the Ukrainian official said on condition of anonymity.
NATO standard artillery shells are very important for Ukraine. NATO relies on 155 mm artillery – most NATO howitzers are of this standard. This means that NATO countries produce this caliber of shells and have them in stock. Those stocks, however, are dwindling as the production of artillery ammunition has been set up to be slow and NATO is not in any direct conflict.
NATO countries supplied Ukraine with a lot of 155 mm weapons – from self-propelled Krab howitzers to towed M777. Ukraine is also manufacturing its own self-propelled howitzer Bohdana, which is also using 155 mm standard shells.
The war in Ukraine is characterized by the extensive use of artillery. Every day Russians and Ukrainians are firing thousands or even tens of thousands of artillery shells each other’s way. Ukraine, of course, still has older Soviet-style artillery, which tends to be 152 mm, but this standard is being used less and less, because Ukraine’s Western allies don’t have this type of ammunition to supply.
Ukraine is making a commitment to adopt the 155 mm standard, but now the supply of 155 mm shells is being reduced, reportedly, by as much as 30 %. A high-ranking US Department of Defense official told reporters that the drop in ammunition shipments “has nothing to do with what’s happening in the Gaza Strip.” But there is no denying that the US is delivering aid to Israel as well.
Ukraine is starting to struggle with artillery ammunition levels. NATO countries are ramping up the production, but it will take some time for it to reach good rates so that Ukraine can fire as many shells as it deems fit.
Written by Povilas M.
Source: Tsn.ua
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Published on The Digital Insider at https://thedigitalinsider.com/how-israels-war-against-hamas-had-an-impact-on-ukraine-technology-org/.
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