The European Union has already transferred over two-thirds of the promised total amount—two million artillery shells—to Ukraine, which is an important element of the defensive support within the framework of a large-scale aid program
This was reported by Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, after a meeting with the EU’s Chief Diplomat, Kaja Kallas. According to the Ukrainian minister, EU member countries have already fulfilled approximately 66% of the planned artillery shell deliveries, with the remaining portion to be provided as quickly as possible. “EU member states have already transferred over 1.3 million shells out of the planned two million to Ukraine. We are actively working to deliver the rest as soon as possible. I am very pleased to note Kaja Kallas’s important initiative in this direction,” Sybiha stated on his social media page X (formerly Twitter). At the same time, he emphasized that Ukraine’s support should go beyond military aid. The foreign minister highlighted the importance of making “bold and large-scale decisions” to counter Russia, as well as accelerating Ukraine’s European integration process. “We agreed on the need to intensify efforts in two areas: strengthening defense support and promoting Ukraine’s candidate status for the European Union,” added Andrii Sybiha following the meeting. These statements come amid another significant update regarding military stockpiles and supplies. Recall that on May 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced an agreement with the Czech side to receive approximately 1.8 million artillery shells this year under the so-called “Czech Shell Initiative.” In the long term, Ukraine expects to receive around three million rounds from its international partners. In addition, an investigation by Reuters in collaboration with the British analytical center Open Source Centre (OSC) sheds light on the proliferation and supply of ammunition in the context of the war. According to their information, over the past 20 months, North Korea has reportedly transported at least four million artillery shells to Russia, which are actively used in combat against Ukraine. Satellite imagery and internal documents confirm that Russia has coordinated efforts with North Korea to bolster its military capacity. Of particular interest is the construction in Siberia of a large plant designed for the production of explosive materials and 152 mm caliber ammunition. According to investigators, this facility is capable of producing at least 1.28 million shells annually. This indicates Russia’s long-term strategy of stockpiling and systematically strengthening its military potential as part of a prolonged aggressive campaign against Ukraine. Thus, the situation regarding military stockpiles and international support remains a key element in Ukraine’s fight for independence and security. At the same time, analysts’ conclusions and official statements show that work to enhance defense capabilities continues, and pressure on Russia is increasing due to new details emerging about the underground circulation of ammunition and the potential expansion of manufacturing capacities in the east of Ukraine and beyond.