Ukraine has withdrawn over 20,000 mortar shells from the front line due to malfunctions.

Out of 54,000 120mm mortar shells suspected of defects, approximately 24,000 are set for removal, stated Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin on November 28.

According to him, this will account for less than 1% of defense production in 2024. Sources indicate that these shells are of domestic manufacture.

Smetanin's statement came after the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported on November 26 that it was investigating the causes of abnormal malfunctions in 120mm mortar shells.

Due to the identified defects, the use of these munitions has been suspended in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the shells have been withdrawn for examination.

Smetanin noted that on November 20, one of the manufacturing plants received a complaint regarding the 120mm shells from the Main Directorate of the Armed Forces.

A working group operated from November 11 to 15 and concluded that several components of the product were malfunctioning. As a result, a portion of the munitions was found to be of poor quality.

Smetanin added that in light of reports concerning the malfunctions of the shells, the latest batches of produced weapons are undergoing retesting.

“At the same time, all enterprises of Ukraine's defense industry continue to operate as usual: producing and supplying quality weapons and military equipment to the Armed Forces,” he said.

“The situation surrounding the defective shells has also served as an additional impetus for all manufacturers to pay closer attention to quality control of their products at all stages of production,” Smetanin added.

Earlier, Fedor Venislavsky, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, informed Suspilne that the Interagency Commission investigating the malfunction of the 120mm mortar shells identified low temperatures and high humidity as the main causes of the defects.

According to the publication DT, the supply of shells resulted from an agreement between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Strategic Industries regarding the procurement of munitions from a domestic manufacturer and reducing dependence on external supplies.

The publication did not name the factory assigned to produce the shells but reported that it is part of the state conglomerate “Ukroboronprom” and frequently faces attacks from Russia.

Preliminary conclusions suggested that potential causes of the shell malfunctions included poor-quality charges and inadequate storage conditions.