Victorious news of 649th day of war: Ukraine develops its own long-range weapons, German plant to produce €142 million worth of shells for Ukrainian army

German plant to produce tens of thousands of shells for the Ukrainian Armed Forces

One of NATO's partner countries has ordered tens of thousands of artillery shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the German defence plant Rheinmetall. The ammunition will be delivered in 2025.

The company has been instructed to supply artillery shells worth €142 million to Kyiv. The order includes tens of thousands of full 155 mm artillery shells. 

The shells will be produced by Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, the Group's recently acquired Spanish subsidiary. 

Rheinmetall is one of the world's largest ammunition producers, especially in the large calibre sector. The ammunition will be delivered in 2025. The production and delivery of about 40,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine from the pre-order is already due in 2024.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces received new air defence systems and scarce missiles from the allies 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has received scarce missiles for air defence systems and new modern anti-aircraft systems. He added that important defence agreements with partners are being implemented. 

"We have received both scarce missiles for existing air defence systems and new, modern anti-aircraft systems. I am grateful to our friends," Zelenskyy wrote. 

In addition, the president says that efforts to increase domestic production are paying off. 

"For the first time, we have reached the figure of six Bohdan aircraft per month. And we already see how to increase it further," Zelenskyy said. 

Ukraine to develop its own medium and long-range air defence systems 

The Ministry of Defence is returning to the Ukrainian development of air defence systems, said Serhiy Zgurets, director of the information and consulting company Defense Express. He noted that back in 2021, the state-owned Luch Design Bureau offered the Ministry of Defence three anti-aircraft missile systems with a range of 10 to 100 km.

"The development of air defence remains an extremely important area. And when we talk about our own air defence capabilities, these are mainly initiatives from the state-owned Luch Design Bureau, which offered the Ministry of Defence three systems back in 2021. One of these complexes had a range of up to 10 km, the second - up to 30 km, and the third - about 100 km. These medium- and long-range systems could be ready within two years with funding of about $40 million."

Zgurets added that at that time, the Ministry of Defence would not have found the money for these projects.

"Now we see that the defence ministry is returning to these projects. As for the Coral complex, it is a surface-to-air missile system with a range of up to 30 km with a new missile. A system with a longer range, up to 100 km, has a different name and is really intended to combat enemy ballistic targets. Now we need to concentrate on ensuring the safety of the development of these SAMs and new cooperation," Zgurets explained.

Ukraine is modifying a missile for the Neptune system

Ukraine's defence industry is working on a new modification of an anti-ship cruise missile for the Neptune system, said Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk.

"Work is underway to create a so-called long Neptune. This is a new modification of the missile for the Neptune system," he said.

In addition, work is underway to modernise the Buk and S-300 air defence systems. However, the military refused to disclose details.

At the same time, Havryliuk said that President Zelenskyy expects to increase the capacity of the defence industry to produce various categories of weapons, military equipment, missiles and ammunition, scale up production and maximise localisation of production in Ukraine of samples and military equipment required by the Armed Forces. This process will involve not only state-owned enterprises, but also private enterprises, including those that produce dual-use goods.

Russian oil depot targeted in occupied Luhansk

Invading Russian forces reported a UAV attack on an oil depot in the temporarily occupied Luhansk. After several explosions, one of the tanks caught fire. The Russian invaders claimed that the oil depot in the city was allegedly attacked by Ukrainian drones. 

Residents of Luhansk claimed on social media that they heard about five explosions. In the comments under the relevant posts, locals also reported that "it's burning on Lutuhynska Street near the petrol station, in front of the crossing". According to Google maps, this is where the oil depot is located in Luhansk.

A video was also posted online showing the sound of a drone flying and then an explosion. Other footage shows that a fire broke out after the explosion. At the same time, the military commandant's office told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the oil depot in Luhansk was allegedly attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using a drone. 

The Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the attack on the oil and lubrication depots in Luhansk.