Supplies of American shells to Ukraine have decreased by more than 30 per cent

Supplies ofartillery shells to Ukraine have fallen by a third since the start of themilitary conflict in Israel.

ABC News reports this with reference to a statement by a Ukrainian official.

It is notedthat during a visit to Kyiv on 20 November, US Secretary of Defence LloydAustin stressed that Ukraine's ability to "engage the enemy" willlargely depend, in particular, on continued US military assistance, includingammunition. At the same time, the supply of weapons is under additionalpressure due to the war in the Middle East, the publication notes.

Inparticular, on the eve of Austin's trip, a Ukrainian official told ABC Newsthat US supplies of NATO-standard artillery shells to Ukraine have dropped by"more than 30%" since Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Stripbegan last month.

"They(US officials) told us that this would not affect (US) commitments, but itdid," the Ukrainian official said.

He alsosaid that the supply of these artillery shells is "about 60-70% ofUkraine's total supply".

The US denies a shortage of shells

The WhiteHouse has denied journalists' reports that the supply of US artillery shells toUkraine has dropped by more than 30% due to the outbreak of war in the MiddleEast.

At abriefing, Pentagon spokeswoman SabrinaSingh was asked whether this meant that the war between Israel and Hamaswas affecting Washington's ability to meet Ukraine's immediate needs on thebattlefield.

"Ihave seen this article. Listen, I would object to this statement. We were ableto provide Ukraine with everything it needed during its counter-offensive, andwe will continue to provide Ukraine with everything it needs as it... as we gointo winter. We're able to do that, and we're able to support Israel in what itneeds to defend itself in its war against Hamas," she said.

Singh saysthey are going to continue to support both countries, but they will not be ableto do so without Congress passing a supplemental spending bill.

"Theonly way we can continue to support Ukraine is if Congress passes that urgentsupplemental bill," she said.

In early2023, the UnitedStates began transferring 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine from USwarehouses deployed in Israel. However, Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 Octoberdramatically changed the situation. The Pentagon decided to transfer tens ofthousands of 155mm artillery shells to Israel from the US emergency stockpilethat had been earmarked for Ukraine a few months earlier.