Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense recalls 100,000 artillery shells that could explode on the handler rather than the target.
At a Glance
- Ukraine recalls 100,000 defective artillery shells.
- Shells failed to detonate or got lodged in tubes.
- Produced by Ukroboronprom, raising procurement concerns.
- Investigation looks into manufacturing and storage flaws.
- Plan to replace with imported ammunition unveiled.
Shells in Hot Water
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has decided to recall 100,000 120mm artillery shells amid severe quality concerns. The defects lead to operational failures with shells refusing to detonate or becoming inconveniently lodged. Ukroboronprom, responsible for the faulty production, has left Ukraine questioning its defense capabilities and casting shadows on the integrity of the procurement process. Soldiers faced issues such as rounds getting stuck, thanks to “abnormal activation,” the Defense Ministry stated.
The alarming defect rate isn’t just bad for business; it’s a headline-stealing scandal. Skimping on quality assurance echoes a flailing procurement system forced to import ammunition. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military embarks on an investigation to confirm low-quality powder charges, or deviations in storage conditions, as the cause.
#Ukraine: Well, something extraordinary happened- the remains of M39 missiles (Made in 1996 and 1997) of the MGM-140A ATACMS Block I system used by Ukrainian forces against Berdyansk AB.
This variant has a range of ~165km, inertial guidance, and carries 950 M74 submunitions. pic.twitter.com/AJQPC1WM2Q
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) October 17, 2023
The Blame Game
This defective batch, merely the tip of the iceberg of Ukraine’s ammunition aspirations, waves red flags over quality controls. Produced by Ukroboronprom, there’s uncertainty over whether the batch was produced in partnership with a NATO country. Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already given his approval to a new production goal of 2.5 million artillery rounds by next year.
Weather conditions such as cold and damp have added to the problem, and the Defense Ministry is investigating the possibility of “low-quality powder charges or violations of the storage conditions of ammunition.” Add to this the backdrop of a global spotlight and the race to replace these ammo misfits has already begun, with Ukrainian officials scrambling for international imports to plug the gap.
Ukraine had to recall 100,000 artillery shells amid complaints they'd get stuck in launchers and weren't exploding https://t.co/yKHtrpI7dU
— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) November 27, 2024
This line of faulty explosives puts a dent in Ukraine’s march towards self-reliance and has raised eyebrows on the domestic front. A criminal investigation has also entered the scene but details remain out of reach and surrounded in military sensitivity.
