Russian Biathletes Experience Ammunition Shortage Due to War and Sanctions

Russian biathletes are experiencing a shortage of quality ammunition as a result of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. According to a report by the BBC, factories that once produced sports ammunition have since been repurposed.

Anton Babikov, a member of Russia’s gold medal-winning relay team at the 2017 World Biathlon Championships, spoke about the poor quality of available ammunition. He revealed that it contributed to eight missed shots and a 23rd-place finish at the International League Cup. “Before we were firing off batches of the best cartridges in the world, now it’s just some leftovers,” Babikov stated.

Dmitry Vasilyev, a former biathlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist for the Soviet Union, agreed with Babikov’s statements. “What Babikov says is true. Sanctions have hit this area very hard. We used to compete with imported cartridges, but now they’re unavailable in Russia.”

Vasilyev added that Russia currently has only one factory producing biathlon cartridges, but the quality remains subpar. “Unfortunately, the quality leaves much to be desired,” he said.

This shortage reflects broader consequences Russia faces due to Western sanctions, which have been consistently imposed on Russian companies and individuals by the US, EU, and UK. The increasing pressure of sanctions has created a significant obstacle to Moscow’s efforts to expand its defense industrial base, as noted by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“Russia has extensively relied on refurbishing stocks of Soviet-era weapons and military equipment to maintain the tempo of its offensive operations in Ukraine,” the ISW observed.

The strain of sanctions has also reached other sectors. Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reported difficulties in servicing his aircraft, citing instances where even “friendly” countries refused to refuel his plane.