New York, US: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Russia as New Delhi's "trusted ally" and "all-weather friend," highlighting the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries.
However, less than three months later, that bond is under strain, particularly following reports that Ukraine has obtained Indian ammunition for use in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. An investigation by Reuters indicates that Indian shells purchased by Italy and the Czech Republic have been diverted to Ukraine. This revelation comes alongside several battlefield images that have surfaced in recent months, showing Ukrainian forces utilizing Indian munitions to counter Russian advances.
During this period, Modi has engaged in multiple discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These meetings began in June in Tokyo, followed by Modi's historic visit to Kyiv in August—the first by an Indian Prime Minister—and most recently, a meeting last week in New York at the United Nations General Assembly.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed reports of Ukraine employing Indian ammunition as "speculative and mischievous." He asserted that India has not breached any regulations, although he did not explicitly deny the existence of Indian shells in Ukraine's arsenal.
Despite this, Russian officials remain skeptical about India's explanations and pose a critical question: Has New Delhi exerted pressure on buyers of its ammunition to prevent it from reaching the conflict in Ukraine?
"There is substantial evidence of Indian artillery shells being utilized by Ukrainian forces, including photographs," a Russian official told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. He emphasized the importance of end-user agreements that accompany all military exports, which are intended to allow sellers to monitor the final users of their sold weapons. "Provide us with proof that India has followed up with Italy or the Czech Republic regarding the diversion of these shells to Ukraine," the official stated, referring to the Czech Republic by its alternative name.
