Some big changes in the artillery war. Sounds significant.
“Recent shipments of U.S. and allied weapons, particularly the Himars multiple-launch rocket systems and 155mm howitzers, have helped to blunt Russia’s offensive in the Donbas and stabilize the situation there, Mr. Zelensky said. The Russians used to fire 12,000 artillery shells daily against 1,000 to 2,000 by Ukraine, he said. Now, he added, Ukraine can fire some 6,000 shells a day while Russia is beginning to feel a shortage of ammunition and troops.
This change in the balance of firepower has stemmed Ukrainian casualties, Mr. Zelensky said. At the peak of fighting in May and June, he said, Ukraine was losing between 100 and 200 troops a day; now, it is down to some 30 fatalities a day and around 250 wounded.”
“The Russians used to fire 12,000 artillery shells daily against 1,000 to 2,000 by Ukraine, he said. Now, he added, Ukraine can fire some 6,000 shells a day while Russia is beginning to feel a shortage of ammunition and troops.”
Those rates of fire seem more realistic to me than some other estimates that I have seen discussed (Like Russian forces firing 50,000 rounds per day).
In addition to Russian forces starting to feel a shortage of ammunition and troops, they have also been wearing their guns out. The barrels on their howitzers are only good for a couple of thousand rounds.
That phase of the war, where Russia had an overwhelming Artillery advantage, seems to have passed.
In addition to the numbers of rounds fired approaching closer to parity, the greater accuracy of Western systems magnifies the Ukrainian effects.