Ukraine received 500,000 artillery shells bought outside Europe under Czech-led initiative

Ukraine received 500,000 artillery shells bought outside Europe last year through an initiative led by Prague and backed by numerous countries, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Tuesday, The Guardian reports. 

A total of 18 countries, including Canada, Germany, and Portugal, raised approximately $1.8 billion by June 2024 to purchase 155-millimetre shells for Ukraine. The first shipment was delivered in June last year.

“The drive known as the Czech ammunition initiative ensured the supply of 500,000 artillery shells of the 155-millimetre calibre,” Fiala told reporters.

He added that the Czech Republic facilitated the delivery of around 1.5 million shells overall in 2024.

Prague continues to send tens of thousands of artillery shells to Ukraine each month, he noted.

The initiative partially compensates for the EU's failure to deliver its promised one million shells to Ukraine by the end of March this year, a target missed due to limited production capacity.

Ukraine’s Western allies are competing with Russia to acquire ammunition from non-European markets.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová emphasized the need for continued financial support from partners, highlighting Canada, Denmark, and the Netherlands as particularly generous contributors.