Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Thursday that shipments of artillery shells to his country have decreased since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement last month.
Zelensky, speaking to reporters, stated, “Our supplies have decreased,” with a particular reference to the 155mm artillery shells widely used along the eastern and southern frontlines in Ukraine, as reported by the French Press Agency.
The decline in artillery shell deliveries to Ukraine comes in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, signaling potential challenges for Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Zelensky also told reporters Thursday that Russian forces were likely stockpiling missiles for strikes on his country’s energy facilities over the coming winter months. Zelensky has previously warned that Russia is likely to increase air strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the winter, as it did this time last year. “My estimation is that they are accumulating [missiles], but that they don’t have many more missiles compared to what they previously had,” Zelensky said, referring to attacks last year on critical infrastructure.
Kyiv in response has urged its allies abroad to bolster its air defense systems to stave off a repeat of last year’s strikes, which left millions of people in the cold and dark for extended periods. “In terms of air defense, we are better than we were last winter,” Zelensky said during a meeting with reporters in the capital.
