Estonia’s defense minister resigns after faulty ammunition deal for Ukraine

The Minister of Defense announced his resignation on Wednesday, despite saying he was unaware of the affair.

“A leader must have the strength and courage to take responsibility, even if the minister does not count shells and cartridges and does not negotiate contracts, the National Audit Office’s comments raise the question of political responsibility,” he wrote on social media, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The 2024 deal was revealed after the National Audit Office's report on the country's defense spending. The ammunition was ordered from an Italian-registered company, owned by India’s Neco Defense Munitions, which had never manufactured ammunition before. The deal came at a time when Ukrainian forces were suffering from an acute shortage of artillery shells.

The Estonian Defense Investment Center paid millions in advance, but delivery was delayed. When the ammunition was finally delivered in 2025, it was faulty and “useless.”