Russia produces more weapons than it needs
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on German television channel N-TV on April 25 that Russia has produced more weapons and ammunition than needed for the special military campaign in Ukraine and is trying to compensate. filled his arsenal.
Mr. Pistorius noted the significant increase in Russia’s arms spending and its efforts to militarize the country’s economy, commenting that “a significant portion of the weapons produced is not brought directly into the country.” next to the front and put into reserves.”
The German minister expressed concern about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s even greater military ambitions: “Right now people can naively say that Mr. Putin is doing this out of caution. But as a skeptical person, I would say that in this case, Putin is doing it because he is planning something, or has something in mind.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Russia’s main battle tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil on February 15. Photo: EPA
Russia’s weapons production capacity far exceeds that of the West
The Kyiv Independent newspaper said that despite Western efforts to weaken Russia’s industrial and military output, the country still increased investment in weapons production, allocating a record portion of the federal budget. state in 2024 for demand.
Russian weapons production has put Ukraine at a disadvantage on the battlefield, allowing Moscow’s military to defeat Ukrainian defenders with a 10:1 weapons ratio in some areas.
“Actually, (Russia’s weapons output) was much higher than what we expected,” said Mark Riisik, deputy director of the policy planning department at the Estonian Defense Ministry.
Ukraine has struggled to keep up with Russia in terms of defense production because the military production capabilities of Ukraine and its allies are considered to often lag behind Russia’s, Kyiv Independent admitted.
CNN news agency (USA) said in March that Russia produces three times more artillery shells than Washington or the EU.
NATO officials said Russia is operating artillery factories 24/7. About 3.5 million Russians currently work in the defense sector. This number before Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine was 2-2.5 million people.
CNN noted that according to NATO intelligence estimates on Russia’s defense output in March 2024, Russia was producing about 250,000 artillery shells per month, equivalent to about 3 million shells per year. Meanwhile, according to a senior European intelligence official, the US and Europe are only capable of producing about 1.2 million shells per year to send to Kiev.
The US military aims to produce 100,000 artillery shells per month by the end of 2025 – less than half of Russia’s current monthly output, CNN assessed.
A senior NATO official told CNN: “What we are facing now is a war of production. The outcome in Ukraine depends on how the sides perform in this war.”
Image of ammunition used during training of Ukrainian soldiers at the shooting range in Donestk in February 2024. Photo: Getty
Europe is concerned about the possibility of conflict with Russia
New Voice of Ukraine said that Europe is worried about the possibility of a conflict with Russia.
Previously, Bild newspaper (Germany) cited intelligence sources to warn about the possibility of Russia attacking Europe in late 2024 or early 2025. This concern is said to stem from the fact that at that time the US was busy with the presidential election and likely to influence the progress of US aid to European allies.
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said the West should be ready for a “total war” with Russia.
German Defense Minister Boris Pístorius said that Europe is “facing a military threat unprecedented in the past 30 years”, and warned of the possibility of a Russian attack within 5-10 years. The next 8 years.
