Intense artillery fire is causing more problems for Ukraine than just ammo shortages and putting gun crews at risk, new report says

• Ukraine’s military is overusing its artillery, causing problems beyond just ammunition shortages.
• Ukraine has been prioritizing unmanned aerial systems with limited supplies.

The Ukrainian military’s aggressive firing of its artillery systems has caused more issues than just ammunition shortages, according to a new report.

“The rate of fire continually exceeds the rate of supply from international donations and Ukrainian domestic production,” the special inspector general report to Congress on Operation Atlantic Resolve released on Thursday said, highlighting the ammo problems.

But there’s more, it said, noting that the Ukrainian military’s “high rate of fire has also had a correlating impact on the maintenance of its domestic and internationally donated artillery systems.”

The new report explained that “the extremely active employment of these weapons, coupled with limited spare parts, has resulted in weapons being fired beyond their recommend maintenance or replacement schedules.”

It added that using limited artillery beyond intended use can result in “catastrophic failure of the gun” or “injury or death of the cannon crew members.”

Throughout the war, Ukraine has been using a mix of Soviet and Western military systems, raising issues involving “obtaining spare parts, maintenance solutions, and technical expertise,” the new special inspector general report said.

Ukraine has been prioritizing the use of unmanned aerial systems for strike missions, surveillance, and the direction of fires. With less ammunition, Ukraine has to shoot smarter. Its drones appear to work well in tandem with artillery, boosting accuracy by 250 percent, soldiers say. Still, the country’s wartime resources are extremely depleted.

“Messaging from Ukrainian leadership and requests from the UAF have consistently attempted to secure a continued supply of munitions from the international community,” the special inspector general’s report said.

Ukraine has been unable to secure more US aid lately, and if it continues to be held up in Congress, the Ukrainian military may be under additional pressure. There’s a risk it could even cost it the war.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies reported that Ukraine’s overall lack of equipment and supplies had left it unable to field new combat elements at full strength.

Russia, on the other hand, has been producing enough tanks, combat vehicles, and other equipment and has enough in storage and reserve to cover its losses. The country has the means to continue its invasion at current equipment attrition rates for the next two to three years, the analysis said.

Other recent analyses have suggested that Russia can also sustain its present manpower losses for another two years.