Estonia sourced artillery shells for Ukraine from risky corners of the globe
Estonia spent years hunting for ammunition suppliers around the world, including in countries with pro-Russian leanings, to arm both Ukraine and itself. Military police officers sometimes joined the deals to protect those involved.
For several years, Estonia has been engaged in an extensive effort to procure artillery ammunition, aiming to supply both Ukraine and its own armed forces. The search for sellers has taken officials to a wide range of unlikely and distant locations, including impoverished areas of Kenya and Sri Lanka.
A risky undertaking
Some of the countries where Estonia managed to buy ammunition are described as holding more or less pro-Russian positions, complicating the deals both politically and practically. To protect the safety of those involved in negotiations and purchases, military police officers were occasionally brought along, specifically to guard against threats to life.
A dangerous market
The process of sourcing ammunition on the international market is described as hazardous, since some sellers operate in murky and potentially violent environments. This illustrates how difficult and dangerous it can be to secure weapons supplies during wartime, when official and conventional supply channels cannot keep up with demand.
Estonia's experience reflects a broader challenge facing Western nations and their allies: ensuring a sufficient supply of ammunition for Ukraine in a prolonged war that has outpaced traditional defense industry production. It shows that states have been forced to seek alternative, not always safe, sources to meet the ammunition needs of both Ukraine and their own militaries.
