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Russia is producing grenades three times faster than Ukraine’s allies, a report says.
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According to the report, Russia also produced grenades more cheaply.
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Ukraine is surpassed by Russia.
Russia is producing artillery shells faster and at a lower price than Ukraine’s NATO allies, a report has found.
Russia’s arms industry is expected to make or refurbish 4.5 million artillery shells this year, according to an analysis by consultancy Bain & Company reported by Sky News.
By comparison, the US, Britain and other European allies are expected to produce 1.3 million this year.
It said that while the 155mm shells typically produced by Western countries for Ukraine cost about $4,000 to make, the 152mm shells used by Russia cost about $1,000.
Bain & Co. reportedly used open source data in creating the analysis. Business Insider was unable to independently verify the data.
The Ukrainian military has been facing artillery shortages for months as it battles to prevent Russia from breaching its defense lines in eastern Ukraine.
The conflict has developed into a war of attrition, with both sides firing thousands of rounds a day to break through each other’s defense lines.
But as Ukraine’s Western allies struggle to meet the relentless demand for grenades, Russia has placed its economy on a war footing and ramped up production of grenades and other military equipment.
Images obtained by The Wall St Journal on Monday showed a drone production factory where Russia wants to ramp up production of the devices.
The recent passage of a $61 billion US aid bill by Congress is expected to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s attacks, but reports say Ukraine is still lagging behind in key parts of the front line.
Stacie Pettyjohn, a military analyst at the Center for a New American Security, recently told BI that the conflict in Ukraine had exposed serious problems in the US’s ability to produce weapons, ammunition and artillery.
Analysts believe that Russia is preparing for a war of attrition against Ukraine, believing that Western resolve and support for Kiev will wane.
Read the original article on Business Insider
