News Feed, Ukraine, Czechia, Artillery, War, Military aid, European allies, Europe

Kyiv to receive 400,000 more shells from Czech initiative, Ukraine's PM says

by Tim Zadorozhnyy May 20, 2025 6:45 PM 2 min read

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on May 20, 2025, to discuss weapons production and economic and humanitarian assistance (Denys Shmyhal / Telegram).

This audio is created with AI assistance

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect additional comments from Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Ukraine will receive 400,000 additional artillery shells in 2025 through the Czech-led munitions initiative, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on May 20 on Telegram.

The initiative, supported by contributions from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other nations, has significantly enhanced Ukraine's artillery capabilities. Launched in 2024, it has become a vital supplement to the country's firepower amid shell shortages.

Following a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Shmyhal said Ukraine received around 1.5 million artillery shells of various calibers through the initiative in 2024.

He announced that Czechia has increased its annual aid allocation to Ukraine to over $43 million. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Prague has provided $900 million in military assistance to Kyiv.

Fiala and Shmyhal also discussed expanding cooperation on weapons production, economic support, and humanitarian assistance.

"We will strengthen the integration of the Ukrainian and Czech defense industries," Shmyhal wrote. "In addition, we agreed to cooperate in training Ukrainian pilots of F-16 airplanes."

Czechia has played a leading role within the EU in rallying military support for Ukraine and has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees since the start of the war.

The country's opposition party, ANO, has threatened to suspend the munitions initiative if it wins parliamentary elections in October 2025.

ANO deputy leader Karel Havlicek made the remarks in January, raising concerns about the future of one of Ukraine's most reliable arms pipelines.

In a separate initiative, the European Union has pledged to supply 2 million artillery rounds for Ukraine. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on social media on May 20 that EU countries "have already committed two-thirds of 2 million artillery shells, and we are working to cover the remaining third as soon as possible."

Author: Tim Zadorozhnyy

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

More than 20,000 people chose to stand behind us. We’re deeply grateful and overwhelmed with your support. Thank you for making it possible.

Let´s see how far we can go?

Become a member

News Feed

3:02 PM

Israeli Foreign Ministry denies sending Patriot systems to Ukraine amid conflicting claims.

The denial contrasts with statements made by Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky, who said in a recent interview that Israel had agreed to transfer retired Patriot missile systems — originally supplied by the U.S. in the 1990s — to Ukraine.

8:08 PM

(Updated: June 10, 2025 2:15 pm)

'Russians are too weak' — Orban questions Moscow's ability to attack NATO.

"The Russians are too weak for that," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

2:35 AM

(Updated: June 10, 2025 1:52 pm)

In one of largest attacks on Ukraine's capital, Russian barrage hits Kyiv, Odesa, kills 3, injures 12.

In the early hours of June 10, Kyiv and Odesa came under another mass Russian attack, involving ballistic missiles and drones.

1:25 PM

Over 40% of Ukrainians willing to compromise on 'de facto' recognition of Russian occupation for peace, poll shows.

Some 48% of Ukrainians oppose even a "de facto" recognition of Russian occupation of Ukraine's territories to achieve peace, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology published on June 10.

1:14 PM

Russian soldier recorded launching grenade at residential building in retaken Kursk Oblast town.

In the footage, the soldier is seen loading a grenade launcher while repeatedly shouting "Akhmat! Chechnya!" — a reference to Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov's forces — before firing in the direction of a residential area.

11:59 AM

Russia to help North Korea produce Shahed-type drones, Ukraine's spy chief says.

Shahed drones could enable North Korea to strike targets across South Korea, potentially overwhelming air defenses, and could also assist Russia in its war against Ukraine.

11:40 AM

Russia doubts NATO's Article 5, could use 'little green men' to test it, German intelligence chief warns.

"They don't need to send tanks for that," German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl told Table Media. "They just have to send 'little green men' to Estonia to defend the allegedly oppressed Russian minority."

9:46 AM

Ukraine's NATO membership remains 'irreversible' despite possible communique omission, Rutte says.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's comments follow reporting that this year's summit communique may exclude references to Russia and Ukraine.

9:33 AM

Russian attacks kill 7, injure 34 in Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down seven Russian missiles and 213 attack drones. According to the Air Force, 64 drones disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare systems.

8:48 AM

17-year-old boy dies after June 3 Russian attack on Sumy, death toll rises to 6.

The boy, whose name was not disclosed, died because of his injuries several days after the strike.

8:15 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 998,080 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 960 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:56 AM

Drone attacks target Russia's Tatarstan Republic, Leningrad Oblast, media reports.

Drone attacks targeted Russia's Tatarstan Republic and Leningrad Oblast in the morning of June 10, independent outlet Astra reported.

6:14 AM

Pro-Ukrainian partisans destroy car used by Russian drone operators in occupied Melitopol, Atesh claims.

A car used by drone operators in the Russian 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade was destroyed by the Atesh partisan group in occupied Melitopol overnight on June 10, the group claimed.

1:53 AM

US accuses Russian of laundering millions, helping Moscow obtain sensitive technology.

U.S. prosecutors have charged cryptocurrency entrepreneur Iurii Gugnin with laundering over $500 million and helping sanctioned Russian entities bypass export controls.

11:48 PM

Canada to hit NATO spending target this year as it shifts defense focus toward EU.

Speaking at the University of Toronto, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said the move is part of a strategic pivot away from reliance on the U.S. and toward deeper cooperation with the European Union, citing growing security threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries.

10:41 PM

War update