In recent remarks, Kusti Salm, the Chancellor of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, indicated that Tallinn is planning to expand ammunition production significantly to support Ukraine. He shared these views during an interview conducted for the state media portal, emphasizing the need for scaled-up output to meet ongoing demand.
According to Salm, the Armed Forces of Ukraine deplete a weekly supply of ammunition at a rate that surpasses what the United States and European suppliers can replace in a month. This perspective underscores a push to accelerate production to keep pace with consumption and sustain military aid to Kyiv.
He noted that Estonia has created a favorable legal and regulatory environment to enable such production and that several Estonian companies and investors have expressed interest in participating. Salm stressed that ammunition manufacturing for Ukraine on Estonian soil is projected to commence next year, aligning with broader European security needs.
Looking at current capacities, Salm asserted that Western partners can produce roughly 200,000 to 300,000 shells annually, and he argued for raising this figure to about 700,000 shells per year. Achieving this level would help ensure Ukraine receives a reliable supply while allowing allied nations to replenish their inventories should consumption shift or decline in the future.
Earlier remarks echoed the call for European states to boost their own ammunition production and expand domestic manufacturing capabilities, reinforcing a collective commitment to support Ukraine while strengthening regional defense reserves.