The Russian army has been forced to turn to Soviet-era artillery after Ukraine’s defence forces “totally depleted” its more modern arsenal, according to a former Ukrainian Security Service officer.
Kyiv has kept a tally of artillery pieces Moscow has lost since the start of the invasion in February 2022.
And since the start of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the summer, the data has shown the losses have exponentially grown – with over 2,000 pieces lost between September 2023 and November 2023 so far.
Ivan Stupak said: “It’s really a big problem for the Russians. It’s not just a cliché, it’s not Ukrainian propaganda.
“For the last five months or so, Russia has very actively been using old-style artillery.
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“Not late-Soviet era, but mid-50s and mid-60s—D30 and the D20-type of towed artillery, with a maximum range of around 9 to 11 miles.”
Stupak said the range is much shorter than what more modern rounds can reach, insisting the use of older systems suggests Russia has effectively run out of artillery.
Speaking to Newsweek, the Ukrainian advisor said: “Russian artillery stockpiles are totally depleted.
“They are using this artillery because they have no other options.”
Vladimir Putin has already signalled he is planning to invest more funds into the military next year but manufacturing the artillery he needs will still be challenging because of the restricted access to Western technologies.
In September, he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to officiously strike a new deal to secure access to more artillery to continue fuelling the war effort.
And the White House this week expressed concerns that Moscow could soon turn to its allies in Iran to replenish its drone and missile stockpiles.
The artillery drop comes at a time when Ukraine is putting more and more pressure on Russian troops in Kherson.
Last week Kyiv confirmed its troops had managed to cross the Dnipro River and established a foothold in what officials branded a potentially significant strategic advance
Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command, said the Ukrainians now were trying to “push back Russian army units as far as possible in order to make life easier for the (western) bank of the Kherson region, so that they get shelled less.”
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
