Russia already produces more weapons and military equipment than it needs for the war against Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is filling his weapons warehouses, announced German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Despite Western efforts, Russia is increasing its investments in arms production and will devote a record portion of its 2024 budget to military needs, the Ukrainian news portal The Kyiv Independent reports.
As Moscow switched to a war economy, “most or some of the newly produced products no longer go to the front, but end up in warehouses,” Pistorius said on a program.
Putin’s other plans
The German minister warned against thinking that Russian President Vladimir Putin is only stockpiling weapons as a precaution. Instead, the Kremlin boss may have other plans in mind, Pistorius added. Russian weapons production has put Ukraine at a disadvantage on the battlefield, allowing Russian troops to outnumber Ukrainian defenders 10:1 in some areas.
In this regard, Ukraine finds it difficult to keep up with Russia, as Ukrainian and allied military production capacities often lag behind the Russians, the paper notes.
According to a CNN report in March, Russia produces three times as many artillery shells as Washington or the EU can provide to Kiev.
In an interview with ARD television, Boris Pistorius was asked whether he shares the fear of the Baltic countries that Russia may attack the territory of NATO member states within a few years. To this he replied that he did not have a crystal ball to predict the future.
But military experts and weapons experts say Russia is increasing its weapons production
– He told.
Cover photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Russian Labor Minister Anton Kotyakov in the Moscow Kremlin on April 10, 2024 (Photo: MTI/AP/Kremlin/Sputynik pool/Gavriil Grigorov)
