Russia can produce up to 2 million shells annually; Ukraine, partners should boost production — Ukrainian MP

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"According to the information, the United States can produce no more than 300,000 rounds of ammunition per year, just like Europe. The Russians and our intelligence say that Russia can produce up to 2 million different types of shells. North Korea also supplies ammunition to the Russians. Yes, there are problems with firing, but these are munitions that they can use. Ukraine and our partners need to increase their own production. Because in the next 50 years, the world will be arming itself to avoid war," Kostenko said.

According to the Security Service colonel, Russia still has large stockpiles of weapons for a war with Ukraine, but it is not Ukraine that Russia is opposing its power to.

"At the moment, Russia is going by the number of weapons. In Ukraine, Russia wanted to show how strong it is. But to remain a global player, Russia needs to have large stockpiles in case NATO attacks them. They need to have missiles, artillery, tanks to resolve conflicts in other parts of the world. Currently, the Russians are spending their resources on us. We are grinding them down here, and they are trying to stay afloat by manufacturing and supplying from North Korea, so that they have some kind of reserve. Because the world sees how they are running out," Kostenko emphasized.

• On April 13, the EU Council approved the allocation of €1 billion for ammunition for Ukraine. On May 2, the EU prepared a plan to produce 1 million shells for Ukraine and its own stockpile.
• On May 23, EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell announced that since the beginning of the year, EU states have already provided more than one-fifth of the one million artillery rounds and missiles to Ukraine as part of an initiative to provide Ukraine with one million rounds.
• On June 1, the European Parliament supported a bill to increase European production of ammunition and missiles to support the Ukrainian army. On July 7, the Council of the European Union and the Parliament agreed on a draft regulation on the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), which would increase the production of missiles and shells.
• On July 13, the European Parliament approved plans to increase the production of ammunition and missiles in the EU to overcome the current shortage due to supplies to Ukraine.
• On September 5, the European Defense Agency signed 8 framework contracts with industry for the joint purchase of 155-mm ammunition for Ukraine.
• In early November, media reported that the EU fears that the bloc may not be able to provide Ukraine with one million rounds of ammunition by the promised deadline of March 2024.
• The EU will not be able to fulfill its promise to supply one million artillery rounds to Ukraine by March 2024. Politicians are now considering how to increase production.