Slovakia plans to resume production of 120 and 155 mm shells for Ukraine – Foreign Minister

Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer has announced that his state will consider resuming the production of ammunition for the needs of Ukraine.

Káčer said this at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a visit to Kyiv, European Pravda reports.

"We are now talking about how to launch our production facilities. We used to produce large-calibre shells (120, 155 millimetres). We have capacities for these calibres, which are partly state-owned, partly private. We need to launch these facilities so that they can start producing 155 mm shells for howitzers. And this is our first priority," he said.

Earlier, the Slovak Foreign Minister announced the approval of a new package of military assistance for Ukraine, which includes large-calibre ammunition, including fighter jets, warm clothes and other equipment. According to Káčer, Slovakia will also continue humanitarian aid to Ukraine, so that Ukrainians can more easily overwinter.

According to The New York Times, NATO is discussing the possibility of investing in old factories in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria to restart the manufacturing of Soviet-calibre 152-mm and 122-mm shells for Ukraine’s still largely Soviet-era artillery armoury.

These discussions come against the backdrop of reports of a growing shortage of weapons that Western powers can transfer to Ukraine; after all, the parties to the war are using weapons and ammunition at a pace unprecedented since the Second World War.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!