US Official: Ukraine Has Inflicted Significant Damage on Russia Despite Ammunition Shortages

A senior US defense official told Voice of America that Russia has suffered 315,000 casualties (killed or wounded) in its war against Ukraine, lost at least 20 naval ships, and incurred financial costs of up to $211 billion to sustain and continue its military operations. This US official stated that Russia has also lost about $10 billion from delayed or canceled arms sales and another $13 trillion in projected economic growth by 2026. These figures align with unclassified US intelligence assessments first presented to Congress last December. The Ukrainian military recently announced that it used advanced drones to sink a large Russian ship in the Black Sea. This US official views Ukraine's recent attack as another example of "Ukraine's ability to protect its shores" and "deliver grain shipments to sustain Ukraine's economy" and continue its military operations. Despite such successes for Ukraine, Russian ground forces have continued their advances in the city of Avdiivka, Ukraine. Field reports indicate that Ukrainian forces are grappling with ammunition shortages and may be forced to retreat. This senior defense official noted that Ukrainians are facing shortages of essential resources, particularly ammunition, and deemed supplemental funding necessary. The US has not sent new aid to Ukraine since late December, when the budget ran out. The US Senate has passed a new bill that includes over $60 billion for Ukraine, but it faces opposition from Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated that 99% of military aid donors to Kyiv are NATO allies, who have increased their support in recent weeks. Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, mentioned that the US has provided a significant share of this aid, and this gap cannot be fully filled by other allies and partners. NATO has stated that since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US has provided about $75 billion in military, financial, and humanitarian assistance, while other NATO allies and partners have contributed over $100 billion. Jeff Jorgensen, Pentagon spokesperson, also told Voice of America that despite the lack of additional funding from Congress, the production and delivery of some ammunition and equipment to Ukraine are ongoing under the previously established contracts through the initiative known as the "Ukraine Security Assistance Program." The budget for this program is running low for future contracts. Jorgensen stated that the US is currently producing about 28,000 155mm shells per month but plans to increase production to 70,000 to 80,000 per month by the end of 2024. The budget for the "Ukraine Security Assistance Program" is currently being used for the production of 155mm shells. The Pentagon spokesperson said that without additional funding, the Department of Defense will not be able to reach its next goal of producing 100,000 155mm shells per month.