Between the tightening sanctions and losing immense amounts of material, Russia’s ability to replenish the equipment, ammunition and machinery has been degraded to the point that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot resupply his troops, Foreign Affairs reports.

Russia is also suffering from the shortage of available computer chips, used in precision-guided munitions common on the modern battlefield, which have been in short supply due to manufacturing delays caused by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.  Prior to its 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine, Russia was dependent on industry in Ukraine for shipbuilding and other major construction efforts.

However, since the nearly-global boycott as a result of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started three months ago, Russia has suffered shortages of vital parts, metals and material to rebuild or repair its aging armaments.  Photos of T-62 tanks, originally build in the Soviet Union in the 1960s being shipped into the combat area, demonstrate the desperation of Russian forces.

“The economic costs of Putin’s decision to undertake this war are going to be significant for Russia, and Russia’s defense industry will feel that,” U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks told reporters during a press conference at U.S. European Command headquarters. “I do anticipate you’ll see that across the breadth of their major modernization areas. … Whether it’s advanced fighter aircraft, whether it’s in their advanced munitions, whether it’s in their naval platforms, microelectronics are central,”