Sheffield Forgemasters has delivered the first four artillery barrels to Ukraine as part of a £61 million contract, marking the first time in nearly two decades that forged artillery barrels have been produced in the United Kingdom. The barrels, manufactured in collaboration with BAE Systems' nearby artillery factory opened last year in Sheffield, are destined for Ukrainian 105mm and 155mm howitzers.
Production Details and Contract Scope
Under the agreement announced in 2024, Forgemasters and BAE Systems will produce a total of 150 barrels. Sheffield is currently manufacturing eight barrels per month. The first four shipped are intended to help Ukraine test its own manufacturing capabilities, as artillery barrels eventually wear out on the battlefield and require replacement.
Forgemasters was nationalised in 2021, with the Ministry of Defence stating the purchase was necessary to secure critical British defence programmes. This production ramp-up aligns with efforts by the UK and European allies to boost domestic weapons manufacturing capacity.
Zelenskyy's Government Reshuffle
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that Sergiy Koretsky, CEO of state energy firm Naftogaz, is best prepared to become the next prime minister in a government reshuffle. Zelenskyy cited Ukraine's energy needs, as its electricity grid and gas supplies have been battered by Russian attacks and face severe pressure during the colder months. Koretsky has provided effective leadership in an extremely complex sector, Zelenskyy said. Parliament is expected to vote on the succession on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy's sacking of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked uproar. Fedorov's six-month tenure coincided with a dramatic improvement in Ukraine's battlefield position. His removal has outraged supporters and comes amid rumours of a feud with top military commander Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Recent Attacks and Military Developments
Explosions rocked Kyiv early Thursday as a ballistic missile attack struck the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported a warehouse hit and missile debris falling on non-residential buildings. Kharkiv was also hit by drones. Zelenskyy stated he expects Ukraine to acquire the knowhow to produce missiles for US Patriot defence systems by the end of this year.
Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of killing the chief engineer of the illegally Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Aleksandr Yakovlev, and a driver when a drone hit a service vehicle near the plant, according to Rosatom. Ukraine did not immediately comment. Russian forces killed three people and injured 15 in an attack on Zaporizhzhia city, said regional governor Ivan Fedorov.
Energy and Black Sea Dynamics
Ukraine's military struck a power plant in Sevastopol that accounts for nearly 50% of electricity generation in Russian-occupied Crimea, special operations forces said. Ukraine's campaign against oil refineries has forced Russia to seek gasoline from Indian refiners amid its worst fuel crisis. Top Russian energy companies have approached Indian refiners for more gasoline, Reuters reported, with at least one cargo of Indian gasoline sailing to Russia. Nearly 40% of Russia's refining capacity is unlikely to return for at least two months without further attacks, according to a source.
Ukraine and Russia intensified their battle over the Black Sea. Odesa region governor Oleh Kiper said a massive Russian drone and missile attack continued for a fifth day, hitting civilian, industrial, and port infrastructure. Three people were killed in a missile strike on a residential building in Odesa. Ukrainian drones hit 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea, forcing Russia to restrict shipping in the Sea of Azov. A Russian attack killed at least three and wounded seven in Sumy region, said governor Oleh Hryhorov.
