According to a report from German publication Handelsblatt, there have been some issues with the artillery shells received through the Czech initiative. This initiative was launched earlier this year by Czechia to help Ukraine with their shell shortages, which were caused by delays in U.S. assistance.
Through this initiative, Czechia had identified 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside of Europe that could be purchased and sent to Ukraine once the necessary funds were allocated. However, a small number of these shells have exploded prematurely during combat, causing injuries and damage to artillery systems. This issue affected approximately 0.05% of the nearly 35,000 shells received, with five out of every 10,000 breaking prematurely.
According to Ukrainian officials, the malfunctions were caused by older detonators from World War II, resulting in explosions at a distance of 20 to 60 meters from the muzzle. Despite these issues, President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed gratitude for Czech President Petr Pavel‘s initiative and support. Czechia has also provided additional support to Ukraine, including main battle tanks, helicopters, multiple rocket launchers, and armored vehicles.
In conclusion, while there have been some problems with the artillery shells received through the Czech initiative, Czechia’s support for Ukraine has been crucial in helping them overcome their shell shortages. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian government are grateful for this support, which has gone beyond just providing ammunition.
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