Ammunition from India enters Ukraine despite Russia's reservations: Report
Artillery shells manufactured by Indian arms producers have reportedly been redirected to Ukraine by European clients for over a year, according to 11 Indian and European government and defense industry officials. This transfer of munitions is intended to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russia. Despite protests from Moscow, New Delhi has not intervened in this trade, as per a Reuters report.
Kremlin's concerns over ammunition transfers
The Kremlin has expressed concerns about this issue on at least two occasions, including during a July meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Indian counterpart. However, the foreign and defense ministries of both Russia and India have not responded to queries regarding these ammunition transfers. In January, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a news conference that India had not sent or sold artillery shells to Ukraine.
European countries involved in Indian munitions transfer
The European countries involved in sending Indian munitions to Ukraine include Italy and the Czech Republic. The latter is spearheading an initiative to supply Kyiv with artillery shells from outside the European Union. This information was disclosed by a Spanish and a senior Indian official, as well as a former top executive at Yantra India, a state-owned company whose munitions are being used by Ukraine.
India's stance on ammunition transfer to Ukraine
Despite being aware of the situation, India has not taken any steps to restrict the supply to Europe. This was confirmed by an Indian official and a defense industry executive with direct knowledge of the transfers. However, they also clarified that Delhi produced only a very small amount of the ammunition being used by Ukraine. One official estimated that it was under 1% of the total arms imported by Kyiv since the war.
India's arms export amid Ukraine conflict
India, traditionally the world's largest weapons importer, reportedly views the ongoing war in Europe as an opportunity to grow its emerging arms export sector. This perspective is shared by six Indian sources familiar with official thinking. Between 2018 and 2023, India exported just over $3 billion of arms, according to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute think-tank.
