Estonian Defense Minister Resigns Over Failed Ukraine Arms Procurement
Ammunition proved unsuitable and did not reach Kyiv. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur resigned amid a scandal over the procurement of artillery ammunition for Ukraine and criticism of the defence ministry by the State Control Committee.
Consensus
- The Estonian Minister of Defense, Hannu Pevkur, resigned due to a scandal involving defense procurement for Ukraine.
- The State Defense Investment Center (RKIK) transferred approximately 70 million euros in advance payments to a company registered in Italy, Datasel S.R.L.
- Datasel S.R.L. was linked to Indian companies with no prior experience in manufacturing or selling artillery shells.
- The purchased artillery shells were not delivered to Ukraine and were found to be incomplete and of poor quality.
- The scandal was triggered by a report from the Estonian State Audit Office highlighting flaws in the operations of the Defense Forces and RKIK.
- Pevkur stated he did not read the contracts and claimed responsibility was political, not personal.
- Pevkur had served as Minister of Defense since 2022.
- The resignation must be approved by the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu).
Points of divergence
- The total amount paid was around 60 million euros, with the first contract for 15 million euros in August 2024 and a second for over 10 million euros in October 2024. — tg_theinsider
- The total amount paid was 70 million euros, and the company had previously sold no artillery shells. — tg_dwglavnoe
- The case is now under judicial review. — tvrain
- The former head of RKIK, Magnus-Waldemar Saar, claimed Pevkur was aware of the negotiations for the first contract. — tvrain
- Part of the ammunition was produced and delivered to an intermediate warehouse in a European country, but Estonia did not transfer it to Ukraine. — tg_theinsider
Coverage (5 sources)
- Estonian ammunition handed over to Kyiv turned out to be defective — Вести
- The Telegraph: Estonian weapons handed over to Ukraine turned out to be defective — Вечерняя Москва
- After €60 million scandal over Ukraine purchases, Estonian Defense Minister resigns. Artillery shells proved unsuitable... — The Insider
- Controversy over weapon purchases for Kyiv: Estonian defense minister resigns — DW Главное
- Minister of Defense of Estonia resigned after scandal with defense procurement for Ukraine — Дождь
Key entities
- Estonia
- Ukraine
- Kyiv
- The Telegraph
- Hanno Pevkura
- Ministry of Defence
- Estonian Express
- Russian Agency for Monitoring and Elimination of Consequences of Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies
- Moscow
- Ministry of Defense
- EU
- India
- European Union
- Armed Forces
- Scandal