Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur has resigned over a €70 million ammunition procurement deal with an India-linked company whose shells were later found to be defective, the state-run broadcaster has reported.
According to reports, Pevkur announced his resignation while appearing on an Estonian television programme, saying he was accepting political responsibility for the matter even though he did not consider himself personally responsible for the procurement decisions.
“As defence minister, I of course have to recognise that I am responsible for the entire area under my ministry, and if you are now waiting for that big answer, then, of course, a leader must have both the courage and the stature to take responsibility as a matter of political responsibility, even when there is no personal responsibility,” the broadcaster quoted him as saying.
“I will take that responsibility, and the prime minister will have to find a new defence minister,” Pevkur added.
On Monday, British media reported that Estonia had contracted Datasel SRL, an Italy-based company run by Indian interests, to produce artillery shells for Ukraine.
The company had not previously produced or sold a single shell, according to the British report.
Estonia made the €70 million payment from an EU military fund in August 2024, with the ammunition intended to reach Ukraine’s frontline by November that year, according to the report.
Delivery was repeatedly delayed, and ammunition eventually inspected in 2025 was found to be defective. None of the shells was subsequently sent to Ukraine, the report said.
Pevkur told the Estonian broadcaster that he had not personally examined the contracts, although they had been received by his office.
