Military journalist Yuriy Butusov said that the Ministry of Strategic Industries continues to supply defective mortar shells to the frontline, despite promises to replace them. He wrote about this on his Facebook page.
According to Butusov, Minister of Strategic Industries German Smetanin claims that the problem with low-quality mortar shells has been resolved, but this is not true.
‘Mortar launchers of the 151st, 155th, 59th brigades continue to receive thousands of defective mines from the Ministry of Strategic Industry. No one removes or replaces them. Mr Smetanin is lying to cover up corruption and helplessness, which result in casualties among our soldiers,’ the journalist said.
Butusov also stated that neither Defence Minister Rustem Umerov nor Supreme Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy are taking any measures to remedy the situation.
In support of his words, Butusov published a video in which the soldiers of the 151st Brigade demonstrate problems with the use of mines.
Earlier, in November, the media reported massive complaints from the military about poor-quality mortar shells that either failed to hit their targets or did not explode. According to journalists, the Ministry of Defence ordered the withdrawal of at least 100,000 defective mines from the frontline, which should have been enough for six months of fighting.