A representative of the Ukrainian security services explained to NV on Feb. 22 what Czech President Petr Pavel meant when he mentioned purchasing 800,000 shells for the Ukrainian army.
A representative of the Ukrainian security forces confirmed the Czech leader’s information that several countries have 800,000 shells that can meet the Ukrainian army’s urgent need for artillery ammunition. This amount exceeds all that the EU managed to supply to Kyiv last year.
“These shells are planned to be delivered from South Korea and southern Africa. The cost of such a contract is about $2 billion,” the source said.
The Czech president made the information about the availability of the shells public specifically to convince France to provide money for this project. This is because Paris blocks the purchase of anything for the Ukrainian Armed Forces that does not come from Europe (and ideally, anything that does not come from France).
At the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17, Petr Pavel said: “So far, we have found 500,000 155 mm shells, and another 300,000 122 mm shells, which we can ship (to Ukraine) in a few weeks if we find the funding for it.” He added that he would seek this assistance from partners in the United States, Germany, Sweden, etc.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov wrote a letter to his EU counterparts earlier, noting that Russian ammunition supplies outnumber the Ukrainian ones by three to one, and that the shortage of weapons in Ukraine is getting worse by the day.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Jan. 31 that by March, the EU would fulfill only 52% of its promise to provide Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells, and the European Commission said that the bloc would be able to produce this amount only by the end of winter 2024.
“These shells are planned to be delivered from South Korea and southern Africa. The cost of such a contract is about $2 billion,” the source said.
What kind of security source gives out information the enemy can use. Does nobody in the West know how to keep their fucking mouth closed. I doubt South Africa will send anything, mafia land will put a stop to that straight away. South Korea should be fine, they are no fans of the putler gang.
I’m flabbergasted, too, Foccusser. Only explanation I can come up with: Czechia may have tried to find sponsors for this huge deal behind the scenes, to no avail. Other states my be hesitant because of uncertainty about the quality of the shells or so. So, there may have been a deliberate leak in order to put public pressure on Nato to get this done. This would at least make some sense, dontchathink?
South Africa will deliver. Their air force is swedish made, and i don’t mean Ikea. 😁 Since Sweden is already an unofficial member of Nato they could tell Pretoria to either hand the shells or Sweden will stop all maintenance for the South African air force.
Don’t forget to promise the involved officials a nice commission, like 10% or so, and it’s a done deal! 😎
I really don’t think it’s good that media reported that. Btw, the problem obviously is the funding. Even at a low price of € 1000 per shell (a bargain nowadays), this still sums up to 800 million Euros, an amount ttat exceed Czechian financiall leeway. Thus, they’re searching for sponsors now.
Canada signaled to help with the purchase but for only $30 million…
Denmark’s new aid package (247 million) apparently includes a small part of these munitions.
Canada ain’t the most stingy Nato member, but 30 millions really is lame. With such small deals, only a part of the 800.000 shells can get delivered. They can afford 100 millions and this would make much more sense.