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Analysis: A key withdrawal shows Ukraine doesn't have enough artillery to fight Russia
AP via Yahoo ^ | February 20th, 2024 | SAMYA KULLAB

Posted on 02/20/2024 6:47:11 PM PST by Mariner

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Dwindling ammunition threatens Ukraine’s hold on the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line under withering assault by Russian artillery. Defensive lines are in jeopardy.

Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region on Saturday after daily Russian onslaughts from three directions for the last four months.

Avdiivka was a stronghold for Ukrainian positions deeper inside the country, away from Russia. A frontline city ever since Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, the fortified settlement with a maze of trenches and tunnels served to protect important — less strengthened — logistical hubs further west.

Its seizure boosts Russian morale and confirms that the Kremlin’s troops are now setting the pace in the fight, to the dismay of Ukrainian forces who have managed only incremental gains since their counteroffensive last year.

CONGRESSIONAL INACTION...

DWINDLING SUPPLIES

The Associated Press interviewed over a dozen commanders, including heads of artillery units, in the war’s most intense combat zones in the weeks ahead of Avdiivka’s fall. They said shortages, which have always plagued Ukrainian forces since the full-scale invasion, grew acute last autumn.

Dwindling supplies of Western-supplied long-range artillery in particular means Ukrainian forces are inhibited from striking high-value targets deep behind Russian lines, where heavy equipment and personnel are accumulated.

For weeks, Ukrainian forces across the frontline have complained about critical shortages in ammunition, with some artillery batteries fighting with only 10 percent of supply they need. Desperate to economize shells, military leaders ordered units to fire at only precise targets. But commanders on the ground say this is barely enough to restrain their better supplied enemy. Concerns are growing that without military aid the fall of Avdiivka may be repeated in other parts of the frontline.

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: kilkillkillforpeace; toobadsosad; ukraine
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To: Jim Noble

“These are high verbal IQ people. They believe that words and action are the same, or that words are better.

They live inside a “narrative”, and they believe that if they control the means of communication, that their “narrative” can become reality as long as all other narratives (what they now call “misinformation” can be blocked. “

Insightful.

They are the best propaganda/information warfare organization in the history of mankind. Bar none.
I call it the Borg for lack of a better moniker.


21 posted on 02/20/2024 7:16:09 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Saintgermain

Like high-powered lasers on sharks...


22 posted on 02/20/2024 7:17:01 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Jim Noble

Please explain Vicky Nuland.

How does she have support and exactly what does she do?


23 posted on 02/20/2024 7:19:00 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Mariner

Ypu don’t go to the front without enough bullets.


24 posted on 02/20/2024 7:20:02 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Mariner

Tell it to the EU...


25 posted on 02/20/2024 7:20:38 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Jim Noble
The battlefield is one place where the rubber meets the road.

Yeah, good post.

26 posted on 02/20/2024 7:20:56 PM PST by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: Jim Noble

Bump


27 posted on 02/20/2024 7:23:56 PM PST by AAABEST (That time Washington DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: BobL; All

They are having great problems producing new ammunition.

For example.

https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/japanesebritish_plan_on_artillery_ammunition_for_ukraine_collapsed_wsj-9374.html

But the USA does have an inventory of millions of 155mm cluster shells, as well as millions of land mines they could transfer.

Biden used his emergency authority to transfer tank ammunition to Israel in December.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-oks-potential-sale-tank-cartridges-israel-1065-mln-2023-12-09/

He could do the same with Ukraine.

But they don’t because the Regime has given up on Ukraine, and now they want to put the blame for the collapse on Trump and MAGA etc.


28 posted on 02/20/2024 7:24:58 PM PST by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: Mariner
We know somebody ordered them into the fight because they have lost 6 advanced aircraft in the last week or so.

That's what Ukraine says. Last I heard it was one and that was from friendly fire. Everybody knows they lie like a rug, Ghost of Kiev.

29 posted on 02/20/2024 7:25:40 PM PST by Karl Spooner
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To: Mariner
"ever since Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014"

Should be:

"ever since Ukraine started shelling Donetsk in 2014"

30 posted on 02/20/2024 7:26:37 PM PST by who_would_fardels_bear (What is left around which to circle the wagons?)
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To: The Louiswu

Here here Mariner. This is between Russia and Ukraine. We have no dog in this fight and need to stay out. If Russia invades any NATO pact country, then send troops and guns until then let the hash it out.


31 posted on 02/20/2024 7:33:36 PM PST by DaiHuy (I support LGBTQ. (Lets Get Biden to Quit.))
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To: glorgau
The factories and tooling takes years to build with the first couple years of the “Special Military Operation” have been frittered away. Not so on the Russian side.

If we wanted to build a new munitions factory in the United States, the environmental impact study alone would take a decade to complete before the first slab of concrete was poured.

It isn't the 1940s anymore.

32 posted on 02/20/2024 7:33:57 PM PST by Drew68
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To: Reverend Wright
But they don’t because the Regime has given up on Ukraine, and now they want to put the blame for the collapse on Trump and MAGA etc.

All the deaths they caused and they could care less. I would have a hard time saying, Lord forgive them.

33 posted on 02/20/2024 7:35:32 PM PST by Karl Spooner
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To: BobL
Kind of stupid of the Neocons to start a war with Russia, yet never bothering to PREPARE for that war.

Being stupid is "nothing new under the sun!"

They've only been doing stupid for about 60 years.

This is clearly no different.

All of this while "Rome burns" at home.

34 posted on 02/20/2024 7:36:54 PM PST by icclearly ( )
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To: wildcard_redneck

Play devils advocate here please.
What does the US and its allies in support of the Ukes HAVE that could be supplied instead to compensate for lack of parity in artillery tubes and shells? Bombs and the means to deliver? Missiles of all sorts?
Could the West deplete stocks of non intuitive weapons for the Ukes to use while crash manufacturing millions of drones plus things like cluster bombs and fuel air thermobaric bombs that really sap the morale of the opponent? If the West is serious (and UT hasn’t shown it yet), why aren’t Russian railways, bridges, pipelines and shops being mysteriously destroyed, sabotaged, and sunk in much greater numbers? If we really have been reverse engineering alien technology at skunkworks/area 51 out West, we are getting a poor bang for our bucks in this conflict.
Above perhaps all, we could abandon any greenie pretense of decoupling from oil and L.N.G. and massively drill and produce to drive world prices down to where Russia starves on what it gets from its oil and gas exports. How does Russia run its economy if oil is $20 a bbl for years?
Just my two cents and I’m no fan of corrupt Uke leadership but less a fan of Putin-run Russia. I think we should have added Russia to NATO in ‘91. Their people are a good fit as friends and allies and they could have modernized their country and growm wealthy from exploiting Siberia. Same with the Nork people.


35 posted on 02/20/2024 7:37:45 PM PST by desertsolitaire
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To: Karl Spooner; Mariner

Russia lost 5 jets, all geo-located:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WT9qfIEuR0

3 Russian jets downed on 02/17/2024
04:26 / 06:33

2 Russian jets downed on 02/19/2024
04:35 / 06:33


36 posted on 02/20/2024 7:40:30 PM PST by linMcHlp
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To: Karl Spooner

They are disgusting.

They were gleefully promoting the idea that Ukraine would fight to the last man.

They don’t care, as long as some damage is done to Russia.

Of course, all the Globohomo Regime governments don’t care about their own White populations either, and would gladly send them to die in the Donbass.

As Christians, we are supposed leave vengeance to the Lord.

My prayer is that the Lord would raise up God-fearing elites, rulers and leaders for the West.

And leave it to Him what to do with those there now.


37 posted on 02/20/2024 7:48:17 PM PST by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: linMcHlp
Russia lost 5 jets, all geo-located:

Reporting from Ukraine? Are you serious? This is USMC Mom's source.

38 posted on 02/20/2024 7:50:15 PM PST by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: Drew68; glorgau

“If we wanted to build a new munitions factory in the United States, the environmental impact study alone would take a decade to complete before the first slab of concrete was poured.”


It’s even better than that.

The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is supposedly in a “heritage district” in Scranton. So no expansion of the building footprint is permitted.


39 posted on 02/20/2024 7:52:15 PM PST by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: linMcHlp

I’m sorry, but I don’t see any evidence. Looks like a cartoon.


40 posted on 02/20/2024 7:53:25 PM PST by Karl Spooner
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