Estonia continues to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, this time by delivering a new batch of artillery ammunition. The exact number of shells in the latest shipment was not disclosed.

The announcement was made by the Estonian Ministry of Defence on the X platform on 13 June.

“Estonia has delivered more artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Ukraine’s security is European and transatlantic security. We must keep supporting Ukraine, so it can defend itself and achieve a just, lasting peace,” says Estonia’s Defense Ministry. 

Previously, Estonia had provided Ukraine with 10,000 artillery shells and 750,000 food kits for soldiers, Slovo ta Dilo reports. It also delivered equipment and machinery to Ukrainian rescue services. In March, Estonia announced plans to purchase military equipment and gear worth €100 million for Ukraine.

Earlier, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that Prague plans to supply Ukraine with even more ammunition in 2025 and continue its support in 2026. 

Meanwhile, Russia continues to receive military support from Iran and North Korea, and other states that do not support Western sanctions. 

Czechia plans to supply Ukraine with even more ammunition in 2025 and continue its support in 2026, UkrInform reports. 

Czechia intends to deliver more large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine this year than in 2024, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Prague.

“We want to supply more large-caliber ammunition this year than in 2024, and continue this initiative in 2026,” Lipavský states.

According to him, Czechia’s participation in the Coalition of the Willing and the expansion of the Ammunition Initiative demonstrate long-term solidarity. He emphasized that the intensity of contacts between Kyiv and Prague shows that Czechia is a key partner of Ukraine.

Sybiha, in turn, thanked Czechia for its systematic support, especially in defense and weapons supplies. He also highlighted humanitarian efforts, assistance to internally displaced persons, hospital reconstruction, provision of 3D printers, and drones.

“I was impressed by the volume of help provided by Czech society, volunteer and non-governmental organizations that assist Ukraine every day,” said Sybiha.

Czechs raise € 8.15 mn for Ukraine military drones

Among the projects Czechia is implementing in Ukraine is the restoration of six hospitals. Both sides also see great prospects in developing defense-industrial cooperation.

“With Czechia, we have reached the highest level of bilateral dialogue. Czechia is one of the few countries with which Ukraine has established strategic relations during the war,” emphasized Sybiha.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to receive military support from Iran and North Korea, and other states that do not support Western sanctions. Thus, while Czechia and its allies actively assist Ukraine with ammunition and equipment, Russia receives support from countries, complicating the frontline situation and prolonging the war.

Russia turns the war into a marathon of continuous arms production. Moscow produces more ammunition than all NATO countries combined, and does so many times faster, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London on 9 June. 

“In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year,” said Rutte.

He added that Russia’s military machine is not slowing down. On the contrary, it is strengthening its potential. Russia is actively replenishing its arsenal with help from China, Iran, and North Korea. 

Rutte also noted that Russia is using Chinese technology to modernize its army.

“And its defence industrial base is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armoured vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles this year alone,” the NATO chief highlighted.

He warned that Russia could be ready for aggression against NATO within the next five years. According to Rutte, “President Putin does not act like someone who is interested in peace.” 

NATO needs to increase air and missile defence by 400% – Rutte says ahead of June summit

Russia produces as much ammunition in three months as NATO does in a year, posing serious risks for the alliance, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on June 9 at Chatham House in London.

"The capabilities of (Vladimir) Putin's war machine are speeding up, not slowing down," Rutte said. "Russia is reconstituting its forces with Chinese technology and producing more weapons faster than we thought."

Rutte's statement comes amid mounting tensions between the alliance and Russia and an increasingly uncertain U.S. commitment to European security.

According to Rutte, Russia is restoring its military potential with the help of China, Iran, and North Korea. This year, the Russian industrial complex is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles, NATO chief said.

"Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years," Rutte said. "Let's not kid ourselves."

"We are all on the eastern flank now. The new generation of Russian missiles travels at the speed of sound. The distance between European capitals is only a matter of minutes. There is no longer east or west. There is just NATO," he added.

When asked whether a long-term truce in Ukraine's war against Russia would allow the latter to stockpile even more weapons and increase the risks to NATO, Rutte said: "That's a statement of fact."

"Our assumption at the moment is that even whilst the war against Ukraine is continuing, they (Russian forces) are still able to increase stockpiles slightly, but that's debatable," Rutte added.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted European countries to hike defense spending in order to revive their military capabilities, which atrophied after decades of disarmament following the Cold War.

The matter gained more urgency after signals that the U.S., the most powerful military in NATO, plans to scale down its presence in Europe as President Donald Trump shifts strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region.

Ukrainian foreign intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko recently warned that Russia will be able to replenish its forces between two and four years after the war in Ukraine, allowing it to launch aggression against Europe.

‘Find and destroy’ – how Ukraine’s own Peaky Blinders mastered the art of bomber drones

Editor’s note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. DONETSK OBLAST – From the moment the vehicles duck into pre-prepared positions in the leafy treeline to the first dead Russian soldiers, less than twenty

The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Polish authorities launched an investigation into anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition found abandoned at an airport hangar near the Polish-Ukrainian border. The weapons belonged to a private company that was contracted to deliver the systems to Ukraine but failed to complete the transport for unclear reasons.

TV Republika first reported the discovery of the mysterious containers at the Laszki aeroclub site before the Przemyśl district prosecutor’s office dispatched Central Bureau of Police Investigation officers to the location, where they confirmed the presence of anti-aircraft weapons. Prosecutors have since opened a criminal case examining a private company’s mishandling of military equipment and ammunition, according to RMF24.

Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesman for the minister coordinating special services, confirmed the weapons were anti-aircraft systems described as “a kind of launcher.” Dobrzyński stated that “the warehouse was not supervised, which is a scandal,” emphasizing that such weapons require proper storage and supervision.

The Polish Ministry of Defense issued a statement clarifying that the containers with ammunition and weapons “are NOT the property of the Polish Army.” 

Now investigators are conducting activities to determine the weapons’ source and intended recipient, with assistance from experts at the Military Institute of Armament Technology.

Russia and North Korea have engaged in "unlawful military cooperation," including arms transfers of up to 9 million shells and "at least 100 ballistic missiles" in 2024, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) published May 29.

The MSMT is made up of 11 United Nations member states and was formed in October 2024 to monitor and report on the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea in light of deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The watchdog's first report presents evidence that North Korea and Russia violated United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) and engaged in illegal activities throughout 2024.

Violations include deliveries of weapons and military equipment, Russian training of North Korean troops for deployment in direct combat against Ukrainian forces, supply of refined petroleum products to North Korea above UN-mandated caps, and correspondent banking between the two countries.

In 2024 alone, North Korea sent Russia at least 100 ballistic missiles, an MSMT participating state found. These missiles "were subsequently launched into Ukraine to destroy civilian infrastructure and terrorize populated areas such as Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia," the report said.

Infighting around EU rearmament undermines grand ambitions for European defense

Despite grand plans, the European Union’s hoped-for rearmament remains fully dependent on member nations stepping up their own defenses. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an 800-million-euro “Rearm Europe” plan to build out a defense architecture that has depended on the U.S. since the

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Russian-flagged vessels delivered  "as many as 9 million rounds of mixed artillery and multiple rocket launcher ammunition" from North Korea to Russia in 49 shipments from January to December 2024, an MSMT participating state found. The cargo was sent from Russia's far-eastern ports to ammunition depots in southwestern Russia for use in the full-scale war against Ukraine.

Open-source data reviewed by the Open Source Centre (OSC) indicates that Russian vessels delivered between 4.2 and 5.8 million rounds of 122 mm and 152 mm ammunition between August 2023 and March 2025.

The report also confirmed that North Korea deployed over 11,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk Oblast for training and combat operations against Ukrainian troops.

According to the MSMT, "these forms of unlawful cooperation ... contributed to Moscow's ability to increase its missile attacks against Ukrainian cities including targeted strikes against critical civilian infrastructure."

The MSMT also documented transfers of arms from Russia to North Korea. Moscow is believed to have sent Pyongyong short-range air defense systems, advanced electronic warfare systems, and at least one Pantsir-class combat vehicle, the report said.

Russia provided additional support to North Korea's ballistic missile development program, leading to improvements in missile guidance performance, and MSMT participating state said.

The documented arms transfers violate longstanding UN embargoes on material shipments between UN member states and North Korea.

North Korea reportedly began supplying Russia with weapons in 2023. Pyongyang's involvement in the war escalated in fall 2024, when thousands of North Korean troops were dispatched to Russia's western border. The deployment came several months after the two nations signed a defense treaty in June, requiring either state to render military aid to the other in the event of an attack.

Despite this, North Korea only publicly admitted its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine in late April 2025. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un said in May that his country's participation in the war was part of a "sacred mission."

Recent days have also seen a surge in Russian aerial attacks against Ukraine. For three nights in a row, Moscow barraged cities across Ukraine with drones and missiles, including ballistics. The MSMT report confirmed that Russia has attacked Ukraine with North Korean-made ballistic missiles — and that these weapons contain foreign parts provided by third-party distributors.  

How much does a Russian drone attack on Ukraine cost? The question is more complicated than it sounds

Beginning overnight on Saturday, May 24, Russia rained down nearly a thousand drones and missiles on villages and cities across Ukraine in three nights of large-scale aerial attacks, as civilians spent hours sheltering underground. Russia’s bombardment killed more than a dozen people and injured dozens more, in one of

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

North Korea delivered massive military supplies to Russia since September 2023, South Korea’s foreign ministry reported, according to Yohnap.

The shipments include more than 20,000 containers of weapons and equipment.

The containers carried approximately 9 million rounds of artillery ammunition. They also included more than 100 ballistic missiles and over 200 heavy artillery pieces. North Korea sent anti-tank guided missiles and rockets as well.

These transfers make up enough supplies to equip three full brigades, according to the report.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team produced the findings. This group was established in October 2024 by South Korea and the United States. It replaced the disbanded UN Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions monitoring.

Russia used military transport aircraft to move the weapons in late 2023. The planes included three IL-76 and three AN-124 aircraft from Russia’s Transport Aviation Command, according to the report.

Russia has provided military support in return. Moscow transferred at least one Pantsir mobile air defense system to North Korea since November 2024. Russia also sent electronic warfare jamming devices and other military equipment.

The report found that Russia also gave North Korea technical support to improve North Korea’s missile guidance systems. This violates UN Security Council resolutions that Russia itself supported as a permanent member.

North Korea also deployed over 11,000 troops to Russia in 2024, which engaged in military operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. 

Russia delivered more than 1 million barrels of fuel to North Korea between March and October 2024. UN sanctions limit North Korea’s annual refined petroleum imports to 500,000 barrels.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comments by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on May 29 denied Russian foreign intelligence (SVR) claims that Serbian defense enterprises continue to supply ammunition to Ukraine, despite Belgrade's stated neutrality.

"The Serbian defense industry is trying to shoot Russia in the back," the agency's statement read.

The Serbian government has maintained friendly ties with Russia under Vucic, who has denied previous claims of Serbian arms supplies to Ukraine.

Belgrade has positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war, striving to balance its position as an EU candidate with its long-standing relationship with Moscow.

Russian intelligence accused Serbian companies of funneling arms to Ukraine via third-party intermediaries, namely NATO countries like Czechia, Poland, and Bulgaria.

"More recently, exotic options involving African countries have also been used for this purpose," the report claimed.

The Serbian contribution amounts to "hundreds of thousands of shells for multiple-launch rocket systems and howitzers, as well as a million small arms sounds," according to the intelligence report.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims made by Russian officials.

Later on May 29, Vucic denied the allegations made by Russian intelligence, saying that some of the claims are not true.

"For example, they correctly say that there is a contract with the Czech Republic. But no permission was given, and none of the missiles were delivered" to Ukraine, Vucic told Serbian outlet RTS.

"We have formed a working group, together with Russian partners, to establish the facts... we work only for Serbia," he added.

The Financial Times reported in June 2024 that Serbian ammunition worth $855 million has made its way indirectly to Ukraine.

How much does a Russian drone attack on Ukraine cost? The question is more complicated than it sounds

Beginning overnight on Saturday, May 24, Russia rained down nearly a thousand drones and missiles on villages and cities across Ukraine in three nights of large-scale aerial attacks, as civilians spent hours sheltering underground. Russia’s bombardment killed more than a dozen people and injured dozens more, in one of

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov signed an agreement in Berlin to finance long-range weapons of Ukrainian production, according to the German Defense Ministry. A contract between Ukraine and the German defense industry was also concluded.

Umerov traveled to the German capital together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks. The support measures for Ukrainian armed forces have a total scope of around five billion euros ($5,7 bn), the Defense Ministry reported. The money comes from funds already approved by the Bundestag.

Germany will finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine. A significant number of long-range weapon systems will be produced in 2025. The first systems reportedly can be deployed in just a few weeks.

Additional ammunition packages for various weapon systems, including ammunition for important air defense systems, land weapon systems and small arms, will be delivered soon as well.

Minister Pistorius emphasized Germany’s unchanged position during the Ukrainian Defense Minister’s visit on 28 May 2025, in Berlin’s Bendlerblock. 

The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on 28 May to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. 

The visit comes as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to discuss potential steps for further technical negotiations between Ukraine and Russia during their personal meeting.