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Estonia's Defense Minister resigns after wasting 70 million euros on faulty ammunition for Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur resigned on Sept. 2 after revelations that Estonia paid 70 million euros to a company with no prior ammunition sales for artillery shells intended for Ukraine, which were later found to be faulty and delayed.
- Pevkur stated he was unaware of the procurement issues but took political responsibility following a critical report by Estonia's National Audit Office on defense spending and military procurement.
- The controversial deal involved the Italian-registered Datasel S.R.L., owned by an Indian company, and was funded through the EU's European Peace Facility amid Ukraine's severe artillery shell shortages.
- Estonia’s defense spending has sharply increased since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with plans to further raise the defense budget to 5.4% of GDP in 2026 and provide over $117 million in military aid to Ukraine.
- The Estonian government is addressing the fallout with a cabinet meeting and a criminal investigation has been launched into the defense procurement issues highlighted in audit reports from 2025 and 2026.
