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Transcript/ScriptNATO UKRAINE AMMUNITION SHORTAGE
HEADLINE: NATO Warns of Ukraine Ammunition Shortage as War Depletes Stockpiles
TEASER: Ukrainian forces are firing up to 7,000 artillery shells every day at invading Russian forces
PUBLISHED AT: 10/4/23 & 5:55p)
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko, DJ OK
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Zoom, APTN, Reuters, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVRPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[NATO’s most senior military official has warned that European ammunition stocks are running short – as the West continues to send large amounts of military aid to Ukraine to fend off invading Russian forces. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.]]
((NARRATOR))
Ukrainian forces are firing several thousand artillery shells every day at invading Russian forces. Much of the ammunition is supplied by Kyiv’s Western allies.
As the war enters its twentieth month, the chairman of NATO’s military committee warned Tuesday that supplies are running out.
((FOR RADIO: As the war enters its twentieth month, the chairman of NATO’s military committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, warned Tuesday that supplies are running out.))
((Adm. Rob Bauer, NATO Military Committee Chair (in English) ))
“We started to give away from half-full or lower warehouses in Europe. And therefore, the bottom of the barrel is now visible, and we need the industry to ramp up production in a much higher tempo. And we need large volumes.”
((NARRATOR))
Both Europe and the U.S. have outlined plans to ramp up weapons production.
Simultaneously replenishing stockpiles – and supplying Ukraine – will require clearer signals from Western political leaders, says defense analyst Simona Soare.
((FOR RADIO: Simultaneously replenishing munition stockpiles – and supplying Ukraine – will require clear signals from Western political leaders, says defense analyst Simona Soare of Britain’s Lancaster University.))
((Simona Soare, Lancaster University Defense Analyst (in English) ))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“There is a lot more that can be done from that level to communicate that this effort is not a temporary surge, but rather it's a sustained, potentially longer-term effort. We're talking about billions of dollars that need to be invested in this.”
((OPT OUT))
((NARRATOR))
The Pentagon said this week there is just 1.6 billion dollars left of the 25.9 billion dollars that Congress provided to replenish U.S. military stocks that have been flowing to Ukraine. The United States has given an estimated 46.6 billion dollars of military aid to Kyiv since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
The European Union has given almost 27 billion dollars, and Britain an estimated 7 billion dollars’ worth. But boosting production takes time.
((FOR RADIO: Again, Simona Soare.))
((Simona Soare, Lancaster University Defense Analyst (in English) ))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“It takes on average between two and four years to set up a new production line for high intensity military equipment that you need in Ukraine. Same thing goes for munitions. We're talking about hundreds, potentially thousands, of people who need to have very, very niche skill sets to be employed in this undertaking.”
((OPT IN))
((NARRATOR))
Analysts say there is growing concern among Kyiv’s supporters that upcoming elections in the United States and Europe could undermine Western unity on support for Ukraine.
The U.S. Congress passed a last-minute stopgap funding bill Saturday to avert a government shutdown – but it did not include any new aid for Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden has vowed to continue American support for Kyiv.
((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
London
Embargo DateOctober 4, 2023 18:52 EDT
Byline
Henry Ridgwell, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
