Ukraine to Receive 1.5 Million Shells in 2025 as Part of Czech Initiative

As part of the Czech initiative to supply ammunition, Ukraine may receive at least as many shells in 2025 as it did last year.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated this on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.

The initiative launched last year by the Czech government and funded by a number of NATO allies provided Ukraine with 1.5 million artillery rounds.

“The Czech-led ammunition initiative to supply Ukraine can deliver at least as many shells in 2025 as it did last year,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala after the Paris summit with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and other leaders.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Czech Republic announced that, as part of the initiative launched in 2024, approximately 1.5 million large-caliber artillery shells had been delivered to Ukraine, a third of which are 155 mm in caliber.

The Czech Republic has used its diplomatic and industrial capabilities to search for and purchase ammunition worldwide, with funding provided by NATO allies.

Production in the Czech Republic

Currently, the Czech defense industry is increasing its own defense sales and expanding its presence in various countries around the world, offering its products.

In March, it was announced that the Czech STV Group, as part of expanding its production capacity and increasing annual output, plans to ramp up ammunition production to 300,000 units per year starting in 2025. This includes 155 mm artillery shells.

The expansion will primarily occur through the opening of a new production line in just a few weeks. This will enable the company to double production to 200,000 shells per year.

The next step will be the launch of another production line, which is planned to open by the end of 2025.

Its full operation, reaching a production capacity of 300,000 shells, is expected to begin in 2026.

Currently, STV Group’s production capacity allows for the production of between 56,000 and 150,000 shells per year, depending on the caliber.