Us Has Given Ukraine So Many Weapons That Defense Officials Say One Of Its Ammunition Stocks Is Running Uncomfortably Low Report

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the US has sent many weapons to the eastern European nation. Among them are the M777 Howitzer and the 155 mm ammunition for the guns. But that has depleted the US’s own stockpile of ammunition, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The U.S. has provided Ukraine with so much weapons to fend off Russia’s unprovoked invasion that Pentagon stockpiles of some munitions are “uncomfortably low,” defense officials told the Wall Street Journal. Lower levels of 155mm ammunition, which can be fired by the US-made M777 Howitzer, are of particular concern to some officials, the Journal reported Monday. An unnamed defense official told the Journal that the level of 155mm ammunition in US stockpiles has not reached critical levels, but is “uncomfortably low” and “not at the level we would want to go into combat.” Although the US is not involved in any major conflict at the moment, the paper noted, the US military used mortars just last week to attack Iranian-backed groups in Syria. When asked on Monday whether depleted stocks of 155mm ammunition were a direct result of US support for Ukraine, a senior defense official told reporters the “short answer” is “no”. “We are able to deliver what we have delivered and still maintain our readiness as a military force,” the official said, according to VOA reporter Jeff Seldin. Howitzers are towed artillery weapons that can hit targets miles away. As of Aug. 24, the U.S. has committed to sending 126 M777 aircraft to Ukraine and up to 806,000 155 mm artillery shells for the weapons, according to the Pentagon. The US last week included up to 245,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition in a $2.98 billion military aid package for Ukraine – the largest single package of security aid committed to the eastern European country since Russian forces invaded in late February. These weapons, however, will be delivered differently than previous packages and will not be drawn from existing Pentagon stockpiles. In addition to its howitzers and ammunition, the US has also sent Ukraine a long list of other military supplies since Russia’s invasion in February, including mortar shells, missile systems, drones, anti-aircraft capabilities, air defense systems and personnel equipment. Read the original article on Business Insider