Greece has stepped forward as a crucial supplier of artillery ammunition for Ukraine in a Czech Republic-led initiative, which seeks to provide vital support to Kyiv amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia. The Czech initiative, garnering international support, represents a significant effort to address a pressing shortage of artillery shells faced by Ukraine’s military forces.
Minister of Defense Ioannis Kefalogiannis, addressing the parliament standing committee on Armament Programs and Contracts, confirmed that Greece will supply munitions from its army warehouses, with the cost of transfer, estimated at $156 million, to be reimbursed by other nations. This move is part of a larger emergency delivery of artillery worth around $1.9 billion to Ukraine, as reported by news outlets.
The Ukrainian military, grappling with a significant shortage of ammunition due to domestic production constraints and slowed European manufacturing, has been outgunned in terms of the volume of artillery shells fired by Russian forces. This has resulted in a near-starvation of ammunition for Ukrainian artillery units, a situation exacerbated by a US ban on arms deliveries to Ukraine since December due to a Congressional impasse.
The ammunition provided by Greece includes shells, fuses, and propellant for medium and large-caliber guns, deemed surplus due to belonging to old production lots or being suitable for weapons no longer in service with the Greek military. A significant portion of these supplies is 155mm NATO-standard shells, a system highly popular with the Ukrainian army and introduced to the conflict in May 2022.
The report by the Athens-based iEidisies news agency highlights that other munitions to be sold by Greece include a variety of artillery shells, such as Cold War-era 30mm and WW2-era 40mm anti-aircraft shells, Vietnam-era 203mm heavy artillery shells, and modern 105mm anti-tank and high explosive shells. Notably, US-made 203mm shells are compatible with the Soviet-era 2S7 Pion howitzers operated by Ukraine, a weapon valued for its range and accuracy.
The total value of Greek ammunition and equipment to be transferred to Ukraine is estimated to be equivalent to $185 million, as reported by iEdiseis. This commitment forms part of the $1.9 billion pledged by more than 15 countries to fund the Czech-led cooperative’s search for artillery shells. Germany has emerged as the largest contributor, with significant pledges also made by Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway, among others.
Prague officials have led the charge in mobilizing support for Ukraine, calling on nations to pool resources to finance the procurement of artillery shells from global markets. The urgency of the initiative is underscored by the competition in international markets for Soviet-standard calibers.
Relevant articles:
– Greece to Become Big Source of Replacement Shells in $1.9 Billion Czech Ammo Plan for Ukraine
– Media: Greece plans to supply Ukraine with a large batch of ammunition through the Czech Republic, Militarnyi, Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:57:29 GMT
– Greece to send thousands of ammo rounds to Ukraine through Czechia’s initiative, Euromaidan Press, Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:08:20 GMT
– Greece joins Czech artillery shell initiative as 155mm ammunition provider, Army Recognition, Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:17:34 GMT