Donetsk - Ukrainian artillery units, including the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade and the 43rd Artillery Brigade, are facing severe ammunition shortages as they battle to repel relentless Russian advances in the eastern Donbas region.

Gun commander Oleksandr Kozachenko's unit, equipped with U.S.-supplied M777 howitzers, has seen its daily shelling capacity drop dramatically from 100 to fewer than 10 rounds. "It's a luxury if we can fire 30 shells," Kozachenko lamented.

Despite the U.S. Congress approving a $61 billion aid package last month, frontline units report that crucial supplies of 155mm rounds have yet to arrive. American officials have promised expedited deliveries, but as of early May, the situation remains dire.

Resurgent Russian forces have outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian defenders, launching multiple offensives across Donbas and along the northeastern border. This resurgence marks a significant turning point in the conflict, which began over two years ago with Russia's full-scale invasion.

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finnish-based volunteer group Black Bird Group, noted that Russia has gained more territory in 2024 than it lost during Ukraine's counteroffensive last summer. Since January, Moscow's forces have claimed 654 square kilometers, compared to the 414 square kilometers lost to Ukraine from June to October 2023. Russia's recent gains include 222 square kilometers since May 2 alone.

The Ukrainian military's ammunition woes have severely hampered their ability to mount an effective defense. "Without a doubt, this will be a difficult period for the armed forces," said Colonel Pavlo Palisa of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade. He believes the Kremlin aims to capture the entire Donbas industrial region by year-end, leveraging delays in Western weapon deliveries.