- Category
- Latest news
1.8 Million Shells for Ukraine: Czech-Led Ammo Surge Marks War Turning Point
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The Czech government has confirmed it will continue supplying artillery ammunition to Ukraine through 2026 as part of its international initiative, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said in an interview with Bloomberg on June 17.
According to Lipavský, Prague has secured funding for the next year and allocated resources to ensure continued deliveries. However, he emphasized that the success of the program depends on sustained support from partner nations and their financial contributions.
He noted that while exact delivery figures for 2026 have not been disclosed, shipments for 2025 are expected to reach 1.8 million rounds, backed by 11 countries and frozen Russian assets.
Lipavský described the Czech-led initiative as a turning point on the battlefield, stating that it helped reduce the firepower disparity between Ukrainian and Russian artillery from a 1-to-10 ratio in early 2022 to 1-to-2 in 2025.
The program, launched in 2024, has so far supplied Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, including 155mm and 122mm calibers sourced from third countries. The first deliveries began in June 2024, with monthly volumes increasing to 80,000–100,000 rounds by the autumn.
Lipavský warned that political uncertainty ahead of the Czech parliamentary elections scheduled for October 3–4 could affect the future of the initiative.
Polls currently show former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who opposes military support for Ukraine, leading the race. The current pro-Ukraine government under Prime Minister Petr Fiala is trailing in voter support.
Despite this uncertainty, Lipavský reiterated that the Czech Republic is prepared to continue ammunition deliveries and expand its broader defense contributions. He cited the training of 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers and future plans to train Ukrainian pilots.
He also noted that if re-elected, the Czech government intends to increase defense spending from 2% to 3% of GDP over the next five years.
“The decisive factor is maintaining political support for the ammunition initiative beyond the upcoming elections,” Lipavský said.
He added that Europe, under the leadership of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, must enhance its collective defense capabilities. “We must be prepared, unified, and maintain strong armed forces to deter any future aggression,” he concluded.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine expects to receive around three million artillery shells in 2025, including 1.8 million through the Czech-led initiative.
