“The Russians have to go a long way to reach Kherson. If these supply lines are attacked, it will be bad news for Russia,” says Mart de Kruif, former commander of the Dutch military.
The British Ministry of Defense also reports that Russia would be low on ammunition. It is not clear what the real situation of the shares is, according to De Kruif. «But it is clear that the number of precision weapons has been significantly reduced. Russia has also long been trying to get new weapons from abroad, for example from Iran. The result is that international attempts will be made to block the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia.’
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Shortage of weapons
The weapons problem does not concern Russia alone, stresses De Kruif. Because while Ukraine continues to ask for military support, questions are also open internationally about how long the support can be sustained. And this also has to do with stockpiles of weapons.
‘In Europe, and especially in the Netherlands, many munitions factories have closed in recent years. The stock has now run out in a short time and is no longer replenished. It takes a long time to start, that price is now being paid by Ukraine and Europe.’
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Wake Up
As far as we are concerned, the current situation is one Wake Up, thinks De Kruif. ‘What industry do we need to be able to guarantee our own security, without depending on others?’