The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed a recent report by Reuters, which claimed that artillery shells sold by Indian manufacturers had been diverted to Ukraine by European customers, and that New Delhi did not intervene to halt the trade despite protests from Moscow. The MEA termed the report “inaccurate and mischievous.”
Addressing questions about the report, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen the Reuters report. It is speculative and misleading. It implies violations by India, where none exist and, hence, is inaccurate and mischievous.” Jaiswal emphasized India’s strong track record in complying with international obligations concerning the export of military and dual-use items.
“India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end-user obligations and certifications,” he added.
Reuters Report on Alleged Diversion of Indian Ammunition
The Reuters report, based on conversations with eleven Indian and European government and defence industry officials, as well as an analysis of customs data, claimed that artillery shells produced by Indian arms manufacturers had found their way to Ukraine via European customers. The report suggested that the supply of munitions, which has helped Ukraine in its defense against Russia, had been ongoing for over a year.
Additionally, the report stated that the Kremlin had raised concerns with India at least twice, including during a meeting in July between Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The report highlighted that Indian arms export regulations strictly require that weaponry be used only by the declared purchaser, with the potential for future sales to be terminated in the case of unauthorized transfers.
MEA’s Stand on Compliance and International Obligations
The Indian government has categorically denied any violations, stressing its adherence to international norms. MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal reinforced India’s commitment to its legal and regulatory framework governing the export of military items, which includes thorough assessments of end-user obligations and certifications.
The Reuters report did, however, mention that the amount of Indian-made ammunition allegedly being used by Ukraine was minimal. “Two Indian government and two defence industry sources told Reuters that Delhi produced only a very small amount of the ammunition being used by Ukraine, with one official estimating that it was under 1% of the total arms imported by Kyiv since the war,” the report stated. It also noted that the agency could not determine whether the munitions had been resold or donated to Ukraine by the European customers.
Despite these allegations, India has firmly reiterated its compliance with international standards, calling the Reuters report misleading and an attempt to imply violations where none exist.
