The Government of the Czech Republic endorsed the proposal by the Defence Minister Jana ?ernochová to grant an exception from the condition of the status of permanent excessiveness of military materiel and realise its free transfer to Ukraine, specifically concerning calibre 152 mm artillery ammunition. The Czech Armed Forces holds a sufficient stock of calibre 152 ammunition, which is not compatible with the newly acquired NATO calibre 155 mm artillery guns. Therefore, it is not a materiel that would be intended for use by the Czech Armed Forces in the years ahead.
“We are developing bilateral cooperation on a sustained basis and we support Ukraine on its path to democracy. We have quite a broad variety of options available, from political and diplomatic support to specific measures, such as this donation of ammunition, which I regard an important gesture of solidarity,” Defence Minister Jana ?ernochová said.
The donation comprises roughly 4,000 pcs of calibre 152 mm artillery ammunition valued at approximately EUR 1.5 million, and will be realised by the virtue of a donation agreement included in the endorsed motion. The Ukrainian Ground Forces is equipped with howitzers using 152mm caliber ammunition including 152mm SpGH DANA, 2S19 Msta-S, 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Giatsint-S, 2A65, 2A36 and D-20. The aim of the donation is to strengthen national defence capability of Ukraine, as it requested assistance in response to the situation which involves a concentration of major military potential by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian borders.
The Government of the Czech Republic granted the exception from the status of permanent excessiveness in compliance with the Act on the Czech Republic’s property, which stipulates that free transfers of title to property must be done in public interest. That condition has been met, as strengthening the defence posture of Ukraine is in the interest of the Czech Republic, because it will help mitigate the risk of occurrence of an armed conflict in the East of Europe.
