BRITAIN’S ammo stockpiles fell to historic lows after decades of government “raids” on defence budgets.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said cuts had left troops less ready to fight as kit – such as tanks – had not been maintained.
2Decades of defence cuts have left the British Army more vulnerable than everCredit: Getty
2Defence sources said Britain’s annual production of 155mm heavy artillery shells would last a day in UkraineHe said the war in Ukraine had exposed vulnerabilities including “our ammo stocks, our readiness levels, our ability to meet Russia”.
He warned that Putin’s bloodbath would likely drag on for at least another year.
He told LBC: “I think, it would be wrong to say troops home by Christmas, the lesson of conflict is never say things like that.
“I think 2023 and 2024 is going to be about working to expel Russia from its gains.”
Nato confirmed some members were ramping up ammunution production to help keep Ukraine in the fight.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said said the US, France, Norway and Germany were by pushing ammo factories to maximum capacity and investing in new plants.
He said: “That is making a huge difference.”
The Sun revealed Britain’s ammo stockpiles would run out “in an afternoon” of full scale war with Russia.
President Zelensky’s heroic defenders blast 6,000 to 10,000 shells a day while Russia fires roughly double.
Wallace said Ukraine’s troops would have to fight “the Western way” which uses less ammo than Russia.
He said: “Ukraine uses huge amounts of ammunition to defend itself. Partly that’s why we’re training them to fight in a Western way.
“The Russian or the Soviet way of fighting is very ammunition heavy.”
Defence sources said Britain’s annual production of 155mm heavy artilelry shells would last a day in Ukraine.
Story Credit: thesun.co.uk