Russia risks running out of guns as Ukraine deadlock deepens – Western officials

Vladimir Putin’s invaders and the Ukrainian defense forces are locked in a protracted battle in the Donbass region

Russia risks running out of ammunition as the impasse in eastern Ukraine deepens, a Western official has revealed.

Vladimir Putin’s invaders and the Ukrainian defense forces are increasingly embroiled in a conflict of attrition in the Donbass region.

One official warned: “Without strategic compromise and near stalemate on the ground, this will be a long war.”

They believed that the battle for Donbass was “progressing remarkably slowly,” adding: “Russia has achieved a stealthy tactical success at a very considerable cost.”

They said Western officials are “increasingly vigilant that there will come a time when the tiny strides Russia is making will become unsustainable given the cost and they will need an extended pause to regenerate their capabilities.”

Moscow is sending “significant reinforcements to the Donbass sector,” the official said, pointing to the Kremlin having called up “relatively inferior, understaffed reservist units.”

“In terms of troop deployment, Russia is effectively selling the family silver,” they said.

“The use of reserves ties into a key assessment point – there will likely come a point where Russia can no longer build an effective offensive combat capability due to a lack of ammunition, low morale and simply a lack of combat units.

“We cannot yet speculate when exactly that point might be reached, and the Ukrainian military has evidently faced its own challenges as well.”

They said that “it takes a considerable amount of time to manufacture expensive, advanced weapons under special conditions,” adding: “Each country has a limited supply at any given time.

“From a Russian perspective, they spent a huge amount of it but want to keep a strategic reserve in case they have to go to war with NATO.”

They believed there were “limits to their remaining precision ammunition” and highlighted the “enormous” amount of artillery shells fired in the Donbas.

In the House of Commons, Defense Select Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood, a former Royal Green Jackets officer, warned that while Russia is “not losing” the war, Ukraine is “not winning”.

“European long-term security is threatened not only by the use of force, but by a broader conflict between the West and growing authoritarianism,” he told MEPs.

“Britain should lead a coalition of the willing to provide Ukraine with the level of support it needs, and as we recognize this new threat picture we need to review our own defensive stance.”

Secretary of Defense Leo Docherty stressed: “We provide political and practical support in support of their self-defense and will continue to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense posture.”

Outlining the equipment supplied by Britain, he added: “To date we have sent over 6,900 anti-tank missiles, five air defense systems including Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, 120 armored fighting vehicles… and 1,360 anti-structure ammunition, 4.5 tons of plastic explosives and 400,000 rounds.” small arms ammunition.

“Furthermore, we also supplied 200,000+ non-lethal supplies including 82,000+ helmets, 8,000+ body armor kits.”

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Priti Patel suggested an overhaul of the Homes for Ukraine program is imminent after calls for the project to be extended to children traveling with family members who are not their parents.

She told MPs: “We will make changes.”