Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Indian-manufactured artillery shells have found their way into Ukraine via European customers, despite Russia’s concerns, according to multiple sources, including Indian and European government and defense industry officials. A Reuters investigation of customs data revealed that Indian arms makers’ exports have been diverted to support Ukraine’s defense, bypassing regulations and causing friction between New Delhi and Moscow.
The munitions, initially sold to European nations like Italy and the Czech Republic, have been transferred to Ukraine to bolster its defense against Russia, a practice ongoing for over a year. While India’s export rules prohibit unauthorized transfers, Delhi has not taken steps to stop the trade, even as Moscow raised concerns.
Russia’s Protests and Indian Response
Russia, India’s long-time ally and major arms supplier, has formally expressed its dissatisfaction. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brought up the issue in meetings with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, in July. However, India has maintained that its direct involvement in these transfers is minimal, accounting for less than 1% of Ukraine’s total arms imports.
Despite the Kremlin’s protests, Indian officials have not taken any concrete actions to prevent European customers from redirecting Indian-made munitions to Kyiv. “India has been monitoring the situation but hasn’t intervened,” said an unnamed Indian defense official.
Europe’s Role in Diverting Indian Ammunition
Countries like Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Slovenia have been key players in the transfer of Indian ammunition to Ukraine. Italy’s MES (Meccanica per l’Elettronica e Servomeccanismi), a prominent buyer of Indian shells, has been identified as a key intermediary in sending these arms to Ukraine. Between February 2022 and July 2024, India exported $135 million worth of munitions to these nations, a sharp increase from $2.8 million in the two years prior to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente confirmed that Ukrainian forces received Indian-made 120mm and 125mm ammunition, while customs data showed that Munitions India shipped $9 million worth of shells to the Czech Republic.
Geopolitical Balancing Act
India has carefully navigated its relationships with both Russia and the West, balancing defense ties with Moscow while strengthening diplomatic and defense cooperation with the United States and its European allies. New Delhi’s arms exports have surged in recent years, with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh noting that exports crossed $2.5 billion in the last fiscal year.
Arzan Tarapore, an India defense expert at Stanford University, said that India’s desire to expand its arms export market has inadvertently contributed to the transfer of weapons to Ukraine. “In the sudden expansion, some end-user violations have occurred,” he noted.
