Estonia scandal: €70 million paid for artillery shells never delivered
Estonia paid €70 million to an Indian company for artillery shells intended for Ukraine, but received only promises instead of actual ammunition, leading to the resignation of Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur.
A major scandal has emerged in Estonia this week over a defence procurement deal in which the state transferred €70 million to an Indian company for artillery shells meant for Ukraine. The issue is that the chosen supplier had no prior track record whatsoever — it had never previously sold a single artillery shell.
Despite the payment, Ukraine has received nothing but renewed promises that delivery will eventually happen. No actual military equipment has reached the Ukrainian front as a result of this deal.
Minister steps down
After details of the failed deal became public, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur resigned from his post. His resignation is directly linked to the procurement scandal and to questions about how such a large contract came to be awarded to a company lacking relevant experience in the field.
The case has drawn significant public and media attention in Estonia, given the size of the state funds involved and the fact that they were intended to support Ukraine's military effort against Russian aggression. The situation raises questions about the oversight mechanisms used in major defence procurement decisions and in selecting international suppliers.
There is currently no public information on whether or when Estonia might recover the money paid, or whether the Indian company will eventually deliver the shells.
