Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova announced that some of the money from Russian assets frozen in the European Union will be used to buy ammunition for Ukraine's military.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Czech Republic, aims to provide Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of large-caliber rounds.
The Czech Defense Minister expressed her conviction that this decision is proof of the allies' trust in the Czech Republic and its ammunition initiative.
"This is a unique opportunity to support Ukraine, use resources that originally belonged to Russia, and save public money in European countries," Cernochova shared on social media, as reported by WP Tech.
Ammunition for Ukraine
In May, EU member states agreed to use funds from frozen Russian assets to provide military support to Ukraine.
The Czech Ministry of Defense will play a key role in facilitating these transactions.
According to Czech sources, the total amount of these funds is €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion), part of which will be used to buy ammunition.
The Ministry of Defense stated that it will help acquire ammunition to meet Ukraine’s urgent military needs. The deliveries are expected in the coming months, though details are kept confidential due to the sensitive nature of the operation.
The Czech initiative involves purchasing artillery shells from various suppliers. It has gained support from 15 countries. The first shipment of about 50,000 rounds has already reached Ukraine, with a total of 500,000 rounds expected by the end of the year.
The ammunition includes 155 mm and 122 mm caliber shells. These shells are likely to be simple versions, made with a cast steel body filled with several kilograms of TNT and a fuse.
155 mm shells: Used by NATO countries, these rounds typically contain 9 to 10 kg of TNT, providing significant destructive power. They can reach targets up to 24 km away when fired from a 39-caliber gun, such as the AS90 howitzer. When used with a 52-caliber gun, like the Polish Krab, the range extends to 31 km.
122 mm shells: Part of the post-Soviet legacy, these rounds contain about 2.5 kg of explosives and can hit targets up to 15 km away. Though less powerful than the 155 mm shells, they are still vital for Ukraine's defense.
While these simpler artillery shells may not be very accurate, their range and destructive power make them important in the current conflict.
Ukraine might also receive more advanced versions of these shells, with gas generators that increase their range by about 30 percent.
