Russia builds a new explosive factory – can double the capacity

The Russians may soon have enough explosives to produce 250,000 new artillery rigranates per month. This means that they could build a warehouse that is three times the size of the US and Europe together, according to information to Reuters.

– It’s a lot, it’s about almost 10,000 grenades a day, enough to be able to wage a real war. This corresponds to about an annual consumption to be able to keep a medium -sized battle against Ukraine, says Lieutenant Colonel Johan Huovinen, who is also a teacher at the Swedish Defense College.

The new explosive factory is being built in a protected place near the city of Bijsk in Russian Siberia. The plan that the Reuters news agency has taken part in through state documents is that the factory will be completed in 2025, and be able to produce around 6,000 tonnes of high explosive explosive per year.

– That it is built in Siberia is not surprising. It has been seen that everything that ends up here Ural Mountains can Ukraine fight with drones, this is beyond all the drone distance that exists, says Huovinen.

The background is A large lack of explosives for ammunition. The stock of artillery ammunition has begun to run out on both sides in the Ukraine War, which created silence at the front lines, according to Huovinen:

– Artillery ammunition is a prerequisite for being able to make new offensives because they can do so much damage to the opponent. Now you simply do not have enough fire to be able to move forward at the front but have to bring drone war instead, which is not as effective.

Last year, Russia was forced to buy 2.7 million artillery from North Korea according to Ukrainian intelligence service, which meant more than doubling the ammunition they themselves managed to produce. Although the new factory can mean a significant contribution, it is likely to take time before it is noticed, according to Huovinen:

-Russia is currently planning to plan a new summer autumn offensive, but I do not think that you will be able to build production until then. It will probably take until 2026 before we see the result of this factory and it rather indicates that you are preparing for a more long -lasting war.

It may also mean That Putin is preparing for new wars with the West, he says:

– They cannot use everything against Ukraine but must save ammunition to be prepared for another conflict. You have to see it as Russia building the ability to have a conflict with the Baltic or other countries if required.

As it seems now, Ukraine is badly equipped for intensified firefight at the front line due to the lack of grenades and ammunition.

– What is important now is that the EU and NATO go in and support Ukraine with more ammunition and artillery rigranates so that they can resist any Russian attacks.

Ukraine has according to Huovinen started its own production of ammunition, albeit not as great as Russia. Therefore, the support from the EU is required. At the same time, Europe’s ammunition layer has also been dated and production must increase faster.

– The little we had we have donated to Ukraine and the problem is that very little explosives are produced, so -called TNT for grenades in Europe. The Czech Republic has promised to increase its production to secure access to the EU, but that framework agreement is not large enough to build the layers but would need to be further switched up, says Huovinen.