While waiting for military support, Ukrainians have been forced to improvise to keep their frontline troops supplied. Engineers are "cannibalizing" scrap artillery at a Ukrainian military facility, essentially making one functional artillery gun from what's left of many damaged ones.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

In an effort to maintain their defense capabilities amid reduced Western arms deliveries, Ukrainian army engineers have turned to resourceful methods of repairing and repurposing damaged weapons. At a Ukrainian military facility, the practice of "cannibalizing" scrap artillery has been adopted. This involves utilizing parts from numerous damaged weapons to assemble a single functional artillery gun, a testament to the improvisation required in the face of dwindling supplies.

The facility acts as both a demonstration of the usage of Western military technology and a center for salvaging viable equipment from the wreckage brought back from the front lines. The American counterparts of the Ukrainian engineers have been surprised by the extent of the repairs and repurposing undertaken, showcasing a stark contrast in practices between the two countries. Initially, the weapons received by the Ukrainian facility were recognizable artillery pieces, but over time, the condition of these deliveries has severely declined, pushing the engineers to adopt more unconventional repair methods.

The decline in Western arms deliveries was noticed by the Ukrainian engineers in the midst of 2023, even before a notable delay in current funding was acknowledged. They attributed this reduction to the exhaustion of initial Western stockpiles and the lag in new production catching up after a year of conflict. Despite these challenges, the Ukrainian engineers continue to piece together functional artillery from a combination of new, salvaged, and improvised parts, often treating shrapnel-damaged equipment with a level of care likened to medical rehabilitation.

However, the engineers acknowledge the limitations of their "cannibalization" process. They have had to resort to unexpected solutions, such as repurposing components from commercial machinery, and have begun manufacturing simpler spare parts domestically. The necessity for larger, more complex parts that cannot be locally produced remains a significant challenge. The delay in U.S. aid and the adaptation to using salvaged and improvised parts underline the urgency and resourcefulness displayed by Ukraine as they face the possibility of a diminishing defensive capability against advancing forces.



How Ukraine salvages damaged weapons

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Ukraine Invasion