According to information published by the Czech Ministry of Defense on January 27, 2022, The Government of the Czech Republic endorsed the proposal by the Defense Minister Jana Černochová to grant an exception from the condition of the status of permanent excessiveness of military materiel and realize its free transfer to Ukraine, specifically concerning caliber 152 mm artillery ammunition.
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Soviet 152 mm howitzer shell. Photographed in RUK-museum in Hamina. (Picture source Wikimedia)
“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,” Minister Černochová said.
The donation comprises roughly 4,000 pieces of caliber 152 mm artillery ammunition valued at approximately EUR 1.5 million and will be realized by the virtue of a donation agreement included in the endorsed motion. The aim of the donation is to strengthen the national defense 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 Czech Armed Forces hold a sufficient stock of caliber 152 ammunition, which is not compatible with the newly acquired NATO caliber 155 mm artillery guns. Therefore, it is not a material that would be intended for use by the Czech Armed Forces in the years ahead.
The Government 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 the property must be done in the public interest. That condition has been met, as strengthening the defense 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.
The Ukrainian army is equipped with towed and self-propelled howitzers using 152mm caliber ammunition including 2S3, 2S5, 2S19 tracked self-propelled howitzers, Dana 8x8 self-propelled howitzers, and 2A36, 2A65, D-20 towed guns.
Defense News January 2022
