Armed Forces of Ukraine are experiencing a shortage of artillery and "shell hunger" in Bakhmut

Starting from January 10, in the area of ​​Bakhmut (Artyomovsk) in the DPR, a serious decrease in the intensity (density) of artillery fire of Ukrainian troops has been observed. On this sector of the front, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are experiencing not only a shortage of artillery, but also a “shell hunger”, i.e. lack of ammunition.

In addition, according to data coming from this area, the Russian troops, through the active use of kamikaze UAVs (loitering ammunition) of the Lancet family, Su-25 attack aircraft and 2S5 Hyacinth-S self-propelled guns, managed to disrupt the counter-battery work of the Ukrainian army units. Thus, the artillery battalions of the 53rd and 63rd brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are equipped with 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers of 152 mm caliber and 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled guns of 122 mm caliber, began to request help from other formations.



However, the supply of ammunition and weapons systems from the Armed Forces of Ukraine is very complicated here due to the powerful opposition of Russian troops. UAVs of the Orlan family are constantly in the sky, tracking everything that “moves”. They aim Russian artillery and aircraft at identified enemy forces and assets, including supply convoys, ammunition depots, and positions of Ukrainian artillerymen. The restoration of damaged artillery pieces has also become a problem for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this direction, since repair bases are regularly identified and additional strikes are made on them by the missile forces of the RF Armed Forces.

It should be added that fears of losing foreign self-propelled guns, which were supplied to Kyiv by Western countries, led to the withdrawal of such equipment from Artyomovsk to Konstantinovka. This city is located west of Artemovsk and is part of the next line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Konstantinovka - Kramatorsk - Slavyansk.