Italy delivers €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine, sending surplus arsenal

Italy has supplied Ukraine with weapons and ammunition valued at approximately €3 billion, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto revealed during a closed meeting of the parliamentary security committee, according to the Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Crosetto clarified that this aid mainly consists of surplus stockpiles that have been stored in the Italian armed forces’ warehouses for many years, rather than newly purchased equipment specifically for Ukraine’s needs.

On May 11, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Rome had provided Kyiv with €2.5 billion for military and humanitarian purposes, both directly and through shared European Union funds.

Although much of the weaponry sent to Ukraine is outdated, Crosetto emphasised Italy’s pressing challenge to replenish its national arsenals. In response, he has tasked the Chief of General Staff with conducting a thorough inventory of all weapons available to the country.

Since 2022, Italy has assembled ten packages of military assistance for Ukraine. According to Il Fatto Quotidiano, an eleventh package is being prepared in response to Kyiv’s request for 400 M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).

The newspaper noted that disposing of these vehicles would cost Italy more than sending them to Ukraine, making their transfer a practical choice.

While the full list of military aid packages remains classified, Italian media have frequently reported on certain items included, such as M113 APCs and SAMP/T surface-to-air missile systems. The latter have also been delivered in previous shipments to Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova