Russia Struggling to Resupply, Forced to Use Soviet Equipment in Ukraine – As Russia continues to struggle to resupply its troops in the eastern Donbas region, Russian troops are reportedly being forced to rely heavily on outdated Soviet-made military equipment to continue the military offensive in the region.
According to a statement from Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate, Russian forces are using weapons that have been in storage since the 1970s.
What Equipment Is Russia Using in Ukraine?
In a statement, the Intelligence Directorate alleged that Russian forces in April took 18 ACS “Msta-S” howitzers, 28 ACS “Acacia” self-propelled artillery guns, 15 additional ACS “Msta-S” howitzers, and 20 ACS “Gvozdika” howizters out of storage.
Furthermore, 15 MLRS “Uragan” self-propelled multiple rocket launcher systems and 11 TRC “Tochka-U” tactical ballistic missiles were also removed from 109 old arsenals.
“Restoration of combat capability and staffing of the military equipment of the grouping of troops of the Western MILITARY IS is carried out, including at the expense of the military equipment, withdrawn from storage of 239 mobilization deployment centers (Boguchar, 45 km from the SCU). Maintenance and repair are carried out by units 215 orvb (Marshal Zhukov) 20A,” the statement continues.
Russia Loses Hundreds of Tanks and More in Ukraine
The move probably shouldn’t be surprising given that analysts have repeatedly warned of Russia’s shortening supply of military equipment and munitions over the last month. Those problems have also reportedly been compounded by supply chain problems that have blocked Russia from importing necessary microchips and technological parts manufactured in NATO countries, and general financial hardship.
UralVagoNZavod, the Russian manufacturer in Sverdlovsk responsible for much of the country’s battle tank manufacturing, is struggling to produce T-90 and T-72 tanks, as well as the next-generation T-14 Armata tank.
The Vladivostok shipyard was reportedly unable to meet government weapons orders valued at an estimated value of 25 billion rubles ($323 million).
Ukraine says that Russia has lost 3,000 armored vehicles so far and 460 tanks.
“It’s not good military leadership if you are losing so many men and so much equipment,” Ukrainian military expert Yuri Zbanatski said on CBS News.
Speaking of Russia’s tanks, many of which were left behind in the city of Bucha, Zbanatski said Russian soldiers abandoned the vehicles after they ran out of fuel. For those who find the tanks left behind, he said, it’s “finders keepers.”
“Their personnel is not properly trained. Their commanding officers are not able to plan their offensive operations properly,” he also said.
Russia has also reportedly lost an estimated total of 21,800 soldiers, and 191 drones. Some 154 helicopters, 19 aircraft, and 17 MLRSs have also reportedly been lost. Other estimates of Russian tank losses put the number at 873.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
