If a small increase in Ukrainian artillery could halt the Russian advance, could a big increase reverse it? Could a few million fresh shells turn the tide of the war?

Seven weeks after Czech defense policy chief Jan Jires announced his government had identified 800,000—later, a million—artillery shells that Ukraine’s allies could buy for Ukraine, Estonian defense minister Hanno Pevkur said his own government had found another million shells and rockets for Ukraine.

Pevkur told Postimees he’s trying to scrounge, from the same countries that paid $1.3 billion for the Czech-sourced ammunition, an additional $2.2 billion to pay for the Estonian-sourced ammo.

“If we combine these one million shells, the Czechs’ potential purchases, our buying capabilities and also the British”—who reportedly are organizing their own ammo-for-Ukraine initiative—“I dare say that it would be possible to send Ukraine two-to-2.5 million shells this year, if the funding were available,” Pevkur said.

With 2.5 million additional shells and rockets through the end of the year, the Ukrainians could match Russia’s own ammo supply, Pevkur claimed. It would be the first time in a year that the Ukrainians could fire as many shells and rockets as the Russians could fire.

  • credo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    3 months ago

    Let’s be super clear about what this is. Two countries determined selling 2M rounds would not gravely impact their own national security.

    They are not giving anything to Ukraine here. I assume this means Ukraine could use donation money to buy these as well.