Czech Republic to use frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian ammo

The Czech Defence Minister, Jana Černochová, announced that a portion of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets in the EU will be allocated to purchase ammunition for the Ukrainian army. This move is expected to enable the purchase of hundreds of thousands of rounds of large-calibre ammunition. Here, we explain the types of shells Kyiv might receive.

In her statement on Tuesday, Černochová detailed plans to use part of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets within the European Union to acquire ammunition for Ukraine. Representatives from the Czech Republic, mediating the transactions, are anticipated to play a key role in these efforts.

Černochová emphasized that allocating part of the funds from frozen Russian assets will permit the acquisition of hundreds of thousands of additional rounds of large-calibre ammunition. She expressed confidence that this decision reflects the allies' trust in the Czech Republic and its ammunition initiative.

"This is a unique opportunity to support Ukraine, utilise resources originally belonging to Russia, and save the public finances of European countries," Černochová wrote on social media.

In May this year, EU member states agreed to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets for various purposes, including immediate military support for Ukraine. According to Czech sources, the total amount of these funds is 1.4 billion euros, a portion of which will be utilised by the Czech Ministry of Defence.

In a press release, the Defence Ministry noted that, according to EU requirements, the ministry will mediate the purchase of ammunition to meet Ukraine's urgent military needs. Ammunition deliveries are expected to be completed in the coming months.

"Since this concerns the delivery of sensitive military materials to a country at war with an aggressor, we cannot provide further details. This could jeopardise our assistance to Ukraine," Černochová said, as quoted in the statement.

The Czech ammunition initiative, which involves purchasing artillery ammunition from various suppliers and manufacturers, has garnered the support of 15 countries. The first delivery of approximately 50,000 rounds of ammunition has already reached Ukraine. By the end of the year, Ukrainians are expected to receive 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition.

Support from the Czech Republic will pertain to 155 mm and 122 mm calibre shells. These are expected to be the simplest versions of artillery shells with a truncated rear. They are constructed in a straightforward manner—consisting solely of a cast steel body filled with several kilograms of TNT and a fuse screwed into their tip.

NATO countries use 155 mm calibre shells, which generally contain 9 to 10 kg of TNT, providing them with significant destructive capabilities. Simpler versions can effectively hit targets at a range of up to 15 miles when using systems with a 39-calibre barrel length, such as the AS90 howitzers. For systems with a 52-calibre barrel length, which can impart higher velocity to the shells, like the Polish Krab, this range increases to 19 miles.

Due to costs, these shells do not offer extraordinary precision. Their accuracy at a maximum distance allows for hitting an area the size of a football field. Ukraine might also receive somewhat costlier versions of the shells with a gas generator, which increases the range by about 30 percent. In contrast, the performance of 122 mm shells, part of the Soviet legacy, appears less impressive. They contain about 2.5 kg of explosive material and enable fire at a distance of up to around 9 miles.