Ukr. low on ammo: soldiers

Ukraine is running out of the ammunition needed for its USsupplied Howitzer guns as additional American aid for its military is held up by Congress — all while Russia is quickly bolstering its firepower, Kyiv soldiers warned.

A Ukrainian artillery crew operating an M109 Paladin howitzer said they have been forced to start rationing their shells to try to beat back Russia’s forces near Bakhmut.

“We cannot fulfill our tasks 100%, although we want to,” a commander from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade told CNN, adding that he is desperately waiting for more ammo.

Another Ukrainian commander stationed in Bakhmut said Russia’s war economy is quickly outpacing Ukraine’s own supplies from its allies, with Moscow making use of its Soviet-era reserves.

“The ratio is about 10 to 1,” the commander told the outlet in terms of the disparity in munitions. “Russia is a country that produces ammo, and they have strategic reserves.”

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg drove home the point Tuesday, warning the war has become “a battle of ammunition. Increased production of ammunition is an absolute necessity.” Ronny Reyes

CIA’s ‘pickup’ lines net nyet

The CIA has released a slick new video to try to recruit disgruntled Russian spies as double agents for Washington — a notso-covert move swiftly trolled by the Kremlin.

The nearly three-minute clip was released Monday on the CIA’s social media channels. In it, a fictional employee of GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, portrays himself as a patriot who loves Russia, before saying he realizes the real enemy is inside Russia. It’s been viewed on X nearly 300,000 times.

Kremlin rep Dmitry Peskov brushed the news off, saying: “. . . tell the CIA . . . [Russian social network] VKontakte is much more popular than the banned X.”

Snejana Farberov, Wires

allies to protect itself.

The US is currently unable to send Ukraine any ammunition or weapons as Congress has to approve additional funding.

“So far we have dug into our stocks, but with the consumption of ammunition we see in Ukraine and the needs we see to continue to provide support to Ukraine, we need to ramp up production and that’s exactly what the NATO allies are doing,’’ NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement — noting that the group has signed related contracts worth $10 billion since July.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitskyi said Russia was crafting up to 130 long-range missiles and 115 shorter-range rockets each month.

Ukrainian intelligence officials also reported that Moscow had increased its production of shells to about 2 million rounds a year.

Congressional block

Ukraine is lagging behind as the Pentagon announced last month that it sent $250 million worth of weaponry to Kyiv, the last batch of US military aid as Congress wavers over approving additional help.

President Biden asked Congress in October to approve $61.4 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine as part of a $106 billion emergency funding request, but an aid package has yet to be approved.

The lack of aid from the US was highlighted in a German intelligence report warning that Russia would capitalize on the disparity to launch an all-out assault on Ukraine in the coming weeks.

Norwegian Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen also warned Sunday that Moscow is building up its weapons stockpile at a rate far faster than previously predicted, widening the gap with Ukraine and threatening the spread of war to the rest of Europe.

Kristoffersen added that NATO needs to stay ahead of Moscow, which he said has switched to “a war economy.”