Czech Republic Ready to Provide Thousands More Artillery Shells to Ukraine

20 March, 2024 155mm artillery rounds. Photo from open sources The Czech government's readiness to provide thousands of additional artillery shells to Ukraine comes just a week after it announced the corresponding initiative.

This was reported by The Guardian. According to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, in addition to the already announced 300,000 artillery rounds, his country is ready to begin transferring to Ukraine an additional number of artillery shells. He noted that the Czech Republic cannot stand aside, considering its own history of being under Moscow's control for 40 years.

Indian 155mm shells of the Ukrainian military.

2023 year. Frame from the video "Ukrainian Front"

Recall that the Czech Republic has found the opportunity to buy more ammunition as part of the initiative it previously announced to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine. It concerns approximately 700,000 large-caliber shells, which could be procured additionally pending the availability of necessary funds.

It should be noted that the supplier was found outside the European Union and NATO. According to Czech President Petr Pavel, there are 500,000 units of NATO caliber ammunition and an additional 300,000 units of Soviet caliber available for potential purchase.

155mm artillery shells. Photo credits: Elbit Systems

This quantity will provide a crucial respite on the front line for several months.

Meanwhile, European countries are ramping up their own shell production, recognizing the significance of supplying Ukraine as well as their own armed forces. So far, more than 15 countries have committed to financing the purchase of artillery shells. Among them, in particular, are Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, France, and Norway, as well as Canada, Sweden, and Portugal.

Militarnyi recently reported that by the end of the year, Ukraine, in addition to the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition, wants to implement two more such campaigns and is already working with partners to finance them.