Ukraine probes massive malfunction of mortar shells on the battlefield

KYIV — The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has been actively investigating claims that domestically produced 120 mm mortar shells have been malfunctioning on the war front for the last three weeks, the ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

“Preliminary investigation results indicate possible low-quality powder charges or violations of ammunition storage conditions, which led to [mortar shells] damage,” the ministry said, responding to waves of criticism in Ukrainian publications and from the public.

One of Moscow’s most effective war tactics to gain ground in Ukraine is merciless infantry assaults aiming to exhaust Ukrainians and their weapons no matter how many Russian soldiers die in the process. 120 mm-caliber mortar shells are supposed to blind or stop the infantry advances.

However, one in 10 Ukrainian-made 120 mm shells from the latest supply batch explodes on the front lines, Ukrainian journalists reported earlier this month, citing numerous complaints from the troops.

The defense ministry claimed it had been silently investigating what caused the huge malfunction and had suspended the use of Ukrainian-made mortar shells from the specified batches.

“Imported shells will be delivered instead,” the ministry said.

The State Bureau of Investigation has initiated criminal proceedings into the cause of mortar shell malfunction. The ministry promised appropriate personnel decisions related to responsible officials based on the results of the proceedings.

At the same time, it promised to improve quality control measures and strengthen the monitoring of storage conditions.