Written By Lisa Murimi
India has firmly denied a report by Reuters alleging that Indian-made artillery shells were transferred by European buyers to Ukraine, despite repeated protests from Moscow.
The report, published on Thursday, claimed the diversion had been happening for over a year, suggesting India failed to prevent it.
India’s foreign ministry labeled the report “speculative” and “misleading,” asserting that no violations had taken place.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the allegations “inaccurate and mischievous,” and emphasized India’s strong compliance with international arms regulations.
He added that India has a stringent export policy to prevent unauthorized transfers.
The Reuters report alleged that European nations, including Italy and the Czech Republic, had rerouted Indian ammunition to Ukraine.
However, it noted that the volume was small, constituting less than 1% of Ukraine’s total arms imports since the Russian invasion began.
Moscow has yet to respond to the report or India’s statement, though it has reportedly raised concerns with Delhi in recent meetings.
India, while maintaining a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, has consistently advocated for diplomacy and dialogue, balancing its strong ties with Moscow against international scrutiny.
