Ukraine receives 850,000 shells as Czech initiative gains momentum
Ukraine receives shells as part of Czech initiative (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Western countries have significantly increased their contributions to the Czech-led initiative supplying shells to Ukraine since the beginning of 2025, said Aleš Vítek, Director of the Intergovernmental Defense Cooperation Agency (AMOS) at the Czech Ministry of Defense, according to Reuters.
According to Vítek, a total of 850,000 shells have been delivered to Ukraine this year under the Czech initiative, including 320,000 155mm artillery shells.
In comparison, 1.5 million shells were delivered in 2024, including 500,000 155mm shells.
"Clear and undeniable proof of the satisfaction of our partners is the fact that in 2025 donors' contributions have significantly risen," the official added.
He specified that contributions to the initiative have risen by 29% this year compared to the whole of 2024. In particular, contributions have increased from Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
Vítek noted that donor countries always independently decide which deliveries to fund and at what prices, and that proposals are subject to audits in individual donor nations.
Czech initiative
In 2024, Czechia launched an ammunition initiative for Ukraine amid a critical shortage of shells for Ukrainian forces.
The mechanism works as follows: Prague, together with private companies, identifies stockpiles and new production lines around the world and then offers these batches to NATO countries, which decide which ones to fund.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously stated that Czechia would not purchase weapons for Ukraine from the United States, as it would focus on its own ammunition initiative.
