Indian-made artillery shells have reportedly been diverted to Ukraine by European customers, sparking concern from Russia, which has raised objections over the matter, according to multiple government and defense industry sources. Despite Russia’s protests, the Indian government has not taken action to halt these munitions transfers, as suggested by an analysis of commercially available customs data.
For over a year, munitions intended for European buyers have found their way to Ukraine, aiding its defense against Russia. Indian arms export regulations stipulate that weapons must be used solely by the declared purchaser, with unauthorized transfers potentially resulting in the termination of future sales.
According to Indian officials, the Kremlin addressed the issue during meetings, including a notable discussion between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in July. Despite the concerns, India has remained silent on the matter, with the foreign and defense ministries of both Russia and India refraining from commenting on the situation.
In January, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified, “India had not sent or sold artillery shells to Ukraine.” However, customs records and interviews with industry sources suggest that a small portion of munitions originating from India has reached Ukraine via third-party countries like Italy and the Czech Republic.
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European Transfers and Indian Munitions
Reports indicate that Italy and the Czech Republic, among other European countries, have redirected Indian munitions to Ukraine. The Czech Republic is leading efforts to supply Kyiv with artillery shells sourced from outside the European Union. A senior Indian official, along with a former executive at Yantra India – a state-owned munitions manufacturer – confirmed the involvement of European defense contractors in transferring Indian-made shells to Ukraine.
Sources from both the Indian government and the defense industry assert that Delhi produced a very small portion of the ammunition used by Ukraine. One official estimated that Indian munitions comprise less than 1% of the total arms imported by Ukraine since the conflict began. It remains unclear whether these munitions were resold or donated to Ukraine by the European customers.
Rising Arms Exports Amid Geopolitical Tensions**
India has been expanding its arms export sector, and the ongoing war in Europe is seen as an opportunity to bolster its emerging defense industry. In the two years preceding the 2022 invasion, Indian companies like Yantra, Munitions India, and Kalyani Strategic Systems exported a modest $2.8 million worth of munitions components to countries like Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Slovenia. However, this figure has surged to $135.25 million between February 2022 and July 2024, reflecting the transfer of completed munitions to these European nations.
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Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced that defense exports surpassed $2.5 billion in the last fiscal year, with ambitions to increase this to $6 billion by 2029. Despite Russia’s concerns, India has maintained its stance, possibly leveraging its growing arms export sector as a means of navigating its geopolitical ties with both the West and Moscow.
India’s Strategic Balancing Act
India’s long-standing relationship with Russia, its primary arms supplier, has been juxtaposed with recent warming ties with the United States and other Western nations. As Washington serves as Ukraine’s main security backer, India has been building diplomatic and defense cooperation with the U.S. to counterbalance the influence of a rising China.
Arzan Tarapore, an India defense expert at Stanford University, commented on the matter, stating, “Delhi’s push to expand its arms exports was a major factor in the transfer of its arms to Ukraine. Probably in the sudden recent expansion, some instances of end-user violations have occurred.”
Discreet Deliveries by European Defense Firms
Unlisted Italian defense contractor Meccanica per l’Elettronica e Servomeccanismi (MES) was identified as one of the companies sending Indian-made shells to Ukraine. MES reportedly purchases empty shells from India, which are then filled with explosives before being transferred to Ukraine. Customs records reveal that Yantra shipped $35 million worth of empty 155mm L15A1 shells to MES between February 2022 and July 2024. Additionally, U.K.-based Dince Hill exported $6.7 million in ammunition from Italy to Ukraine in 2024.
In another instance, Munitions India shipped 10,000 rounds of 120mm and 125mm mortar shells, worth over $9 million, to the Czech Republic’s Czech Defence Systems, which were subsequently transferred to Ukraine.
Moscow’s Concerns and India’s Response
Russia has openly expressed concerns about Indian-made munitions being used by Ukrainian forces, pressing Indian officials during diplomatic meetings. Despite the objections, India has not taken any direct action to curb the flow of its munitions to Europe. Security expert Walter Ladwig from King’s College London suggested that the diversion of a relatively small amount of ammunition serves India’s geopolitical interests by demonstrating neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
