Prague-led initiative delivers first ammunition shipment to Ukraine

The first lot of ammunition bought outside Europe under an initiative led by Prague has reached war-ravaged Ukraine, the Czech Republic’s prime minister said Tuesday.

The EU and NATO member of 10.9 million people is spearheading an international fundraising drive to buy ammunition for the Ukrainian army, which has been battling a Russian invasion since February 2022.

Czech government officials said last month that Ukraine would receive up to 100,000 155-millimetre shells in June via the drive joined by countries across the world.

“The first shipment of ammunition from our initiative arrived in Ukraine some time ago. We are doing what it takes,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on X on Tuesday.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

Tomas Kopecny, the Czech government envoy for Ukraine reconstruction, said in May that Kyiv could get millions of shells bought outside Europe if allies managed to collect the money.

As of the end of May, he said some 1.7 billion euros ($1.8 billion) had been raised to buy 500,000 shells in the first phase.

Kopecny said Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal had contributed.

Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said recently that 18 countries had signed up to the initiative as of mid-June.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Czech media have mentioned the Baltic states, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway and Slovenia among countries willing to join the drive.

European Union nations had promised one million shells by the end of March but have fallen well short in deliveries as their production capacities are limited.

The Czechs have turned to markets in third countries, battling Russia for available ammunition supplies there.

Kopecny said Ukraine would need 200,000 shells a month in the next two years “just to make the balance” vis-a-vis Russia.