Indian Arms Sold to Europe End Up in Ukraine, Raising Concerns in Russia

Artillery shells made by Indian defense companies and sold to European nations have been found to be rerouted to Ukraine, despite Russian protests. According to reports from Indian and European defense officials, these arms transfers have occurred over the past year. India, which imposes restrictions on the use of its weaponry by third parties, has not stopped the trade despite the Kremlin raising concerns during diplomatic meetings.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the matter with his Indian counterpart on at least two occasions, including a July 2023 meeting. Despite these concerns, Indian sources suggest that India’s share of Ukraine’s arms supply remains small—less than 1% of the total arms received by Kyiv since the onset of the conflict.

European Nations Involved in the Transfer

Countries like Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Slovenia are reportedly involved in the process of rerouting Indian munitions to Ukraine. For instance, the Czech Republic has been leading efforts to supply Kyiv with artillery shells, a task made easier by its partnerships with Indian defense firms like Yantra India and Munitions India.

Customs data show that these companies have increased exports of ammunition components and completed shells to European customers since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This increase in exports, from $2.8 million before the invasion to $135.25 million by mid-2024, illustrates the growing role of Indian arms in the ongoing conflict.

India’s Arms Export Ambitions

India’s goal of becoming a key player in the global arms market has seen rapid expansion in recent years, with defense exports exceeding $2.5 billion in 2023 alone. This aligns with its ambitions to further increase exports to $6 billion by 2029. However, this growth comes with the risk of end-user violations, as seen in the unauthorized diversion of munitions to Ukraine.

Some Western defense firms, lacking the manufacturing capacity to mass-produce artillery shells, have turned to Indian suppliers. For example, Italian company MES has been sourcing empty shells from India, which are later filled with explosives and exported to Ukraine. Despite the Kremlin's disapproval, India remains hesitant to halt its exports.

Geopolitical Implications

India’s strategic balancing act between its long-standing ties with Russia and its growing relations with Western nations, particularly the U.S., plays a significant role in this complex situation. While maintaining its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India uses arms exports as a tool to strengthen its defense sector and its standing in global geopolitics.

However, the diversion of Indian arms to Ukraine poses a delicate challenge for India’s foreign policy. With Russia remaining its primary arms supplier and a valued strategic partner, India must tread carefully in navigating the competing interests of its global partners while advancing its own defense industry goals.