The deficit of current news has made it difficult for the EU to assist Ukraine, according to The Economist magazine. The publication conducted interviews with experts who revealed that European producers of current materials faced challenges following the end of the war. Many were forced to reduce production or shut down entirely due to high costs or lack of demand. Notably, Great Britain closed its last current materials production facility in 2008. Similar situations arose in other countries due to government experiments or cuts. Currently, Poland houses the largest current materials production facility in the EU. However, the magazine highlights that only a few companies produce materials that meet NATO standards for explosive and ballistic protection. Norwegian company Chemring Nobel, which has a specialized factory near Oslo, and French company Eurenco, with operations in the Swedish city of Karlskoga, are among those few companies. The demand for their products has increased following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. On the other hand, the Economist notes that companies are investing in production expansion to take advantage of the rising demand for current materials and EU subscriptions. Nonetheless, experts estimate that the construction of a factory can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years. For instance, the magazine draws attention to German container manufacturer Rheinmetall which currently produces current materials in Hungary and plans to commence operations only in 2027.