Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala says the first shipment of ammunition from an initiative led by his country has arrived in Ukraine, which is struggling with a serious munitions shortage.
Fiala stressed in a social media post on Tuesday that the Czech Republic will continue to provide support for Ukraine. He wrote, “We are doing what it takes.”
As Russia’s invasion continues, Ukraine’s frontline arsenal is reported to be running seriously short.
To support Ukraine, the Czech-led initiative aims to secure 800,000 artillery shells to be sent to Ukraine, using funding from European countries. The Czech government has been negotiating with militaries and ammunition manufacturers across the world for the project.
The number of artillery shells delivered this time has not been disclosed, but Reuters news agency quoted Czech authorities as saying in May that the first 50,000 to 100,000 shells would reach Ukraine in June.
Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in a US media interview released on Sunday that the supply of munitions from the West has accelerated compared with several months ago.
However, he noted that Ukraine needs huge amounts of weapons, and that the situation on the frontlines is extremely harsh.
Budanov said he expects current conditions at the front to continue for at least another month.