Estonian defence minister resigns after €70 million Ukraine munitions scandal, report says
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
News
Named sources
Outcome reported
- Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur resigned after Estonia paid €70 million to an Indian-run company for artillery shells that were later found to be defective.
- The Telegraph reported that the ammunition was intended for Ukraine but was delayed, failed inspection in 2025 and was never sent to the front line.
- The payment reportedly came from an EU military fund, prompting embarrassment for Estonia as it expands defence spending.
Estonia’s defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, has resigned after a €70 million ammunition deal intended to support Ukraine turned into a scandal over defective shells.
not previously produced or sold a single shell
The Telegraph reported that Estonia contracted Datasel SRL, an Italy-based company run by Indian interests, to produce artillery rounds for the Ukrainian military. The company had reportedly never produced or sold a single shell before receiving the contract.
Estonia made the payment from the EU military fund in August 2024, with the ammunition expected to reach Ukraine’s front line by November that year. Delivery was repeatedly delayed. When a shipment was inspected in 2025, the rounds were found to be faulty, and none were sent to Ukraine.
The Indian-run, Italy-based company repeatedly delayed delivery. When a shipment was eventually inspected in 2025, the rounds were found to be faulty and none were sent to Ukraine.
The report described the episode as an embarrassment for Estonia, which has increased military spending because it could become NATO’s first line of defence against a Russian attack. Pevkur announced his resignation after the scandal emerged.
The scandal is an embarrassment for Estonia, which has increased its military spending because it could be Nato’s first line of defence against a Russian attack.
About this summary
Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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