Ukrainian troops can use only two-thirds of the approximately 350 howitzers provided by the West at the same time, writes The New York Times with reference to sources in the United States and Ukraine, reports Meduza.

A third of the weapons require constant repair due to very intensive use at the front, the American publication notes.

In particular, according to sources, some of the 155-mm shells used did not pass preliminary tests with certain howitzers, and the barrels wore out more quickly.

The US Department of Defense has set up a workshop in Poland to repair damaged equipment, The New York Times also learned.

Western artillery became vital to Ukrainian soldiers when they began to run out of ammunition for their own Soviet howitzers, and keeping them operational became as important to Ukraine’s allies as supplying them with ammunition.