Ukraine to Receive Another Million Shells Under Czech Initiative

The Czech initiative to supply large-calibre ammunition to Ukraine has secured contracts for around one million rounds for 2026, the Czech defence ministry said, after the program narrowly survived attempts by Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s new government to halt it following last December’s election victory.

Launched in 2024, the initiative was designed to help Ukraine reduce its severe artillery ammunition gap with Russia.

Czech officials say around 1.5 million rounds were delivered in 2024 and another 1.8 million in 2025. Since the start of this year, roughly 500,000 additional rounds have already been sent to Ukraine.

The programme combines foreign funding with procurement by Czech arms companies, which source ammunition globally. Nearly €1 bn in funding has been secured this year, including money generated from frozen Russian assets.

(reuters, mja)