Ukraine's war innovation: Turning old missiles into new threats
During the current conflict, Ukrainians have demonstrated immense creativity, notably by finding new uses for old or faulty missiles and other types of weapons. This is how Ukrainians are recycling war debris that is once again impacting the Russians.
Journalists from the United 24 group visited a covert military recycling facility established by Ivanych, the commander of the 3rd Regiment of the Special Operations Forces. A team of 50 people with limited resources is dismantling old or damaged artillery shells and other types of armaments.
Ukrainians report that some of the dismantled missiles were produced in the 1950s. Based on the photos, most of the currently disassembled 122mm and 152mm artillery ammunition is of Iranian or Pakistani origin. Additionally, the facility receives captured ammunition and launchers such as the FGM-148 Javelin or NLAW, which have been damaged by shrapnel.
Everything you know or don’t can become a weapon. "You just have to be creative"
Ivanych admits in an interview with journalists, "everything you know, and even things you don’t, can be turned into a weapon. You just have to be creative." The facility receives a mass of ammunition adapted for use on FPV drones or as throwable charges for "Baba Yaga" drones.
"We cannot afford to throw away ammunition, like they do in the USA," Ivanych remarks, adding after a moment that Ukraine is not as wealthy as America and nothing here is wasted. He also notes that new faulty ammunition does occur, but these are very rare cases.
Moreover, due to the handling of explosives (as old explosives can also become unstable), safety during work is crucial, and there is no room for a relaxed atmosphere at the facility. Often, the factory receives shells with written or engraved slogans targeted at Ukraine or Russia.
The workers are divided into three groups: one dealing with explosives, the second cutting steel rods for shrapnel production, and the third producing warhead bodies and assembling them. Cumulative warheads from launchers or anti-tank grenades are also adapted for drone use when necessary.
Ivanych estimates, according to reports, that about 20 per cent of the ammunition in the frontline zone does not work, which his team's work can mitigate through alternative reuse of war waste. It is worth noting that similar efforts are also undertaken by Russians, who obtain, for example, explosives from faulty hand grenades.
