The Czech Republic ordered 180,000 shells for Ukraine

16 April, 2024 155mm artillery rounds. Photo credits: Brian E. Christiansen/Flickr

Within the Czech Republic's initiative to supply Ukraine with artillery shells, contracts for the purchase of the first 180,000 rounds of ammunition have already been signed. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated this in an article for the Financial Times. According to him, the government is also working on obtaining another 300,000 additional shells.

Artillery ammunition is expected to reach the front line in the coming months. "We are working to get another 300,000 shells for Ukraine and have already signed contracts for the first 180,000. They will be delivered to the frontline in the coming months," Fiala said.

Msta-B towed howitzer and 152mm shells for it

The Czech Prime Minister noted that about 20 countries outside of NATO and the EU have joined the initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine, financing the purchase with their own funds.

In February 2024, Czech President Petr Pavel announced at the Munich Security Conference that his country had found an opportunity to purchase about 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine. The country's representatives managed to find about 500,000 155-mm artillery shells and 300,000 122-mm shells abroad. This amount should be enough to supply Ukrainian artillery for several months of active combat operations.

Subsequently, the Czech Republic reported that they had located an additional 200,000 artillery shells, but did not provide details on the caliber or other details.

155mm artillery shells.

Photo credits: telegraph.co.uk

To date, about 20 countries have joined the Czech initiative to purchase artillery shells, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Norway, as well as Canada, Sweden, Portugal, and Lithuania, which have allocated funds as part of their contributions.

European countries are also expanding their own production of shells, as they understand the importance of supplying them to Ukraine and replenishing their armed forces' arsenals.