Projectile famine and "Weapons of Victory": why in Ukraine "tow" production of 155 mm of ammunition

Why does Ukraine have a shortage of shells despite its production growth? According to the detailed material "Defender", the main reason for this remains the imbalance between the pace of ammunition consumption and the real capabilities of the internal defense industry.

The authors of the publication point out that at the end of 2024 the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution "Victory Weapons", which is intended to provide preferences to Ukrainian weapons manufacturers and create conditions for long -term contracts for the supply of priority samples. However, as it turned out, the mechanism of its implementation raises serious questions.

One example was the company "Ukrainian Armored vehicles", which in October 2024 was licensed from Czechoslovak Group for the localization of the production of 155 mm artillery shells M107, L15, ER-BT VMK/M and 120 mm tanks. It was planned that the share of Ukrainian production in the first stages will be about 55%, including the filling of explosives, and with the subsequent localization of detonators and capsules - up to 70%.

But despite significant investments in production equipment (costs of tens of millions of euros) and the expectations of deliveries for more than a year, Ukrainian capacity remains under -recessed. The reason is the low level of procurement by the Ministry of Defense of those ammunition that should be produced in Ukraine, as well as the lack of localization of powder production.

Thus, instead of 100 thousand shells in 2025 and 300 thousand in 2026, the department ordered only "tens" of thousands of ammunition, and then-mainly at the expense of the production of Czechoslovak Group abroad. According to Arsen Zhumadilov, Chairman of the Defense Procurement Agency, a critical factor was the existing procurement system that prevents preferences to Ukrainian producers.

In other words, the Cabinet of Ministers "Weapons of Victory" does not give a clear instruction to the procurement authorities, how to give them preference to domestic enterprises. "At the level of the rules, it is not settled to give us the advantage of our manufacturers in purchases.

If our manufacturer offers something 1,000 euros per unit and then comes some importer and offers the same for 950 euros per unit - we will be forced to contract imports, even if the local manufacturer will bring taxes.

" As a result, Ukrainian weapons producers, despite all investments and potential, are forced to fight for the possibility of developing the national defense industry, and the country loses a chance to significantly increase its own ammunition potential in conditions when there is an acute shortage of artillery resources on the world stage.