Indian-Made Artillery Fuels Ukraine Defense, Igniting Russian Diplomatic Tensions

Amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, artillery shells manufactured by Indian arms companies have been redirected by European customers to aid Kyiv’s defense, according to multiple sources and customs data reviewed by Reuters. Despite objections from Moscow, New Delhi has not intervened to halt this trade, which has been ongoing for over a year.

Indian export regulations stipulate that weapons sold by India should only be used by the declared purchaser, with unauthorized transfers risking future sales. However, several European nations, including Italy and the Czech Republic, have facilitated the transfer of Indian-made munitions to Ukraine, as confirmed by officials from India, Spain, and Italy.

The issue has been raised twice by the Kremlin, most notably during a July meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Indian counterpart. Although Indian officials acknowledged the protests, they stated that no direct action had been taken to restrict the supply to Europe.

The diverted munitions are a fraction of Kyiv’s total arms imports, with Indian-made artillery shells constituting less than 1% of Ukraine’s overall arsenal, according to Indian officials. However, customs data indicate a sharp rise in Indian exports of artillery shells to European countries since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The exports to Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Slovenia surged from $2.8 million before the war to $135.25 million between February 2022 and July 2024.

India’s growing defense exports, driven by its ambition to boost arms sales globally, have positioned it in a delicate situation. While maintaining close ties with Moscow, India has also strengthened its cooperation with the West, particularly the United States, in response to the rise of China.

India remains cautious but has not curtailed the flow of munitions, opting to expand its defense sector amid the prolonged conflict in Europe.