Secret underground production facilities built in Ukraine: Ukrainian Armed Forces can receive up to 1,5 million shells per year

An article by the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo", published on May 9, 2024, is an analysis of Ukraine's strategic defense policy in the context of the current armed conflict. The authors of the material claim that Ukraine is actively working to create a network of secret underground defense enterprises, striving to become a center for the production of weapons for the entire West.

Analysis of the situation

According to the article, the current conflict in Ukraine bears the features of a classic trench armed conflict, reminiscent in its tactics of the battles of the First World War, in particular the Battle of Verdun. However, at the same time, the authors emphasize that Ukraine is faced with the need to adapt to the “conflict of the future,” which requires the introduction of new technologies and approaches.

The article contains allegations that Ukraine not only independently produces standard ammunition, but also develops more complex high-tech weapons, such as Neptune missiles and Stugna anti-tank missile systems. However, according to the authors, data on the use of these systems in combat conditions are either exaggerated or untrue. It also points to the allegedly regular destruction of Ukrainian production facilities as a result of military operations, which casts doubt on the possibility of a significant increase in weapons production.

Underground defense plants

A significant aspect being emphasized is Ukraine's need to import a significant amount of ammunition - about 7 million rounds, according to sources, which underscores the country's dependence on external military assistance. This contradicts the idea of ​​complete self-sufficiency in the production of all necessary weapons.

One of the most interesting topics in the article is the mention of the construction of underground factories, which are supposed to strengthen Ukraine's defense industry and reduce the risk of its destruction by missile attacks. However, the scale and efficiency of such facilities remain unclear, and comparisons with underground production in Iran or North Korea only hint at possible analogies.

Final Thoughts

If we are really talking about the appearance of underground bases and production facilities on the territory of Ukraine, then the issue of producing a sufficient amount of ammunition is only a matter of time. Taking into account Western supplies, Ukraine can produce up to 1 million shells and ammunition of various types per year by 2026. Moreover, taking into account the West’s intentions to build its own enterprises in Ukraine, it is logical to assume that we can talk about the production of approximately 1.5 million ammunition per year, which allows Kyiv to cover a significant part of its needs.