Ukraine orders millions worth of artillery ammo from Rheinmetall

Ukraine has placed another significant order for artillery ammunition from Rheinmetall as part of an ongoing effort to replenish ammunition stocks depleted by the conflict. The order, worth millions of euros, covers various types of shells and continues the framework agreement with the German Bundeswehr, according to Rheinmetall’s press release published on 18 December.

“The German Bundeswehr has again called off 155 mm artillery ammunition from Rheinmetall under the framework agreement.  Rheinmetall has been commissioned to supply a total of several tens of thousands shells of various types for the Ukrainian armed forces. The order is worth a three-digit million euro amount. Delivery is scheduled for the course of 2025,” the company reported.

The order became known amidst the shell shortage experienced by Ukrainian frontline troops as the EU is failing to fulfill its commitment to provide Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells by March 2024, and two major aid packages from the EU and the US are currently in limbo.

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According to the company’s press release, this order follows previous artillery ammunition orders by the Bundeswehr for both Ukrainian and German armed forces.

In July 2023, Rheinmetall inked a new framework agreement with the Bundeswehr for artillery supplies, potentially totaling around €1.2 billion. The need to replenish ammunition stores due to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war has led to substantial contracts for Rheinmetall.

In October, Ukraine’s defense industry had reportedly increased its production of shells but still could not meet the demand, necessitating Western assistance.

At the same time, Ukraine has been focused on the destruction of Russian artillery assets in recent months to eliminate Russia’s artillery advantage.

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