Media: Estonia paid €70 million for Ukraine-bound shells that failed inspection

Indian company Datasel supplied Estonia with defective artillery shells intended for delivery to Ukraine, Eesti Ekspress reported, citing Elmar Vaher, the former head of Estonia’s Centre for Defence Investments.

The purchase was financed through the European Union’s military fund in August 2024. However, after repeated delays, an inspection conducted in 2025 found that the ammunition was defective, and the shells were never delivered to Kyiv.

Estonia paid Indian businessmen a total of €70 million in advance for the ammunition.

Following the failure of the contract, Estonian prosecutors opened a criminal investigation. The deal has also become the subject of proceedings before the European Arbitration Court.

Datasel has disputed the allegations concerning the quality of the ammunition, according to separate reporting by Eesti Ekspress.

By Tamilla Hasanova