The chapter explores the lack of essential equipment and supplies in Ukraine's defense, such as armed vehicles, fuel, and traditional munitions like 155-millimeter artillery shells that require black powder. It emphasizes the importance of refurbishing old munitions factories in the U.S., like the one in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to meet the demand for ammunition. The focus is on the significance of low-tech weaponry, such as 155-millimeter shells, in enhancing the effectiveness of Ukrainian soldiers in combat.
As Ukraine’s war against Russia drags on, the country has found itself engaged in the kind of trench warfare that once seemed unthinkable in the modern age. This kind of warfare requires very old battlefield technology — and its tearing through the US’s stockpile.
Today on the show, host David Gura speaks with Bloomberg reporters Billy House and Roxana Tiron about the World War II-era factories in America ramping up production to meet Ukraine’s ammunition needs. And he hears from Ukrainian Sergeant Andrii Shadrin about how this shortage is playing out on the frontlines.
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