This grab taken from AFP video footage shows a member of Ukraine's military looking away as a BM-21'Grad' MLRS 122mm rocket launcher fires on the outskirts of Soledar on January 11, 2023. AFPPIX: Ukraine is urging allies for more weapons to fight Russia but experts warn the West is struggling to produce enough ammunition for the arms it has already donated to Kyiv.
The West has pledged billions in military aid since Russia invaded its neighbour almost a year ago, but fighting along hundreds of kilometres of active frontline has depleted ammunition reserves. As fears grow that Moscow is gearing up for a fresh offensive in coming weeks, Kyiv will likely need more munition than ever to defend itself.Since the start of the year, Ukraine has secured pledges from its Western allies that they will send heavy battle tanks, and is now also pleading for fighter jets -- so far without success.
But that's the equivalent of 13 years of production for the Stingers, and five years of work for the Javelins, the head of US defence firm Raytheon Technologies, Greg Hayes, warned in December. Leo Peria-Peigne, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, said the West was slowly gearing up to restock ammunition supplies.'Wholly inadequate'