“In 2025, the Russian Federation produced more than 7 million rounds of ammunition and is actively importing projectiles. This is preparation for a possible war outside Ukraine.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Calculations of 152-mm self-propelled howitzers 2C19 “Msta-S”. Photo: Wikipedia Source: Estonian intelligence report for the year 2026
Details: According to Estonian intelligence services, in 2025 Russian factories produced more than 7 million shells, mortar mines and missiles, compared to 4.5 million in 2024. In general, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the production of ammunition in the Russian Federation has increased 17 times, mainly due to the construction of new production facilities.
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Production of artillery ammunition in Russia, 2021-2025. From the report of the Foreign Intelligence Service of EstoniaThe structure of production in 2025 looked like this:
- howitzer ammunition (122 mm, 152 mm and 203 mm) – 3.4 million;
- mortar mines (120 mm and 240 mm) – 2.3 million;
- ammunition for tanks and BMP – 0.8 million;
- rockets for MLRS – 0.5 million
In addition to its own production, Russia actively imports ammunition. Since 2023, Moscow has received 5-7 million projectiles from Iran and North Korea. According to intelligence data, ammunition from North Korea accounted for up to half of all projectiles fired by Russia at Ukraine in the second half of 2025.
The purchase of these munitions cost Russia about 1 trillion rubles (10.6 billion euros) in 2025. At the same time, the cost remains low: for example, a 152 mm projectile costs less than 100,000 rubles (about 1,050 euros), which is many times cheaper than Western counterparts of 155 mm caliber.
Literally: “For the Kremlin, maintaining these stockpiles is almost certainly a critical element of planning for potential future conflicts… Russia sets long-term operational goals in the war against Ukraine. This confirms that the recent revival of rhetoric about peace talks is just a tactic to buy time.”
What preceded:
- Earlier, the head of the German Armed Forces Support Command, Lieutenant General Herald Funke, stated that Russia attacks NATO countries for two or three years.
- At the same time, NATO is planning for the next two years carry out large-scale rearmament on the border with Russia and Belarus, stockpile much more weapons there and create an uninhabited robotic zone.
- Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Norway, General Eirik Kristoffersen declaredthat Oslo is also preparing for a Russian invasion.