Iranian, Pakistani and Indian ammunition has been found in Ukrainian arsenals, underscoring Kyiv's global efforts to scour the country for weapons amid the ongoing conflict. Despite heavy Western supplies, Ukraine faces a severe shortage of artillery shells, complicating combat operations and costing its troops lives.

One example of the ammunition used is the 125 mm 3VOF19 Nafichip tank shell, manufactured in Iran. This shell is a copy of the Soviet OF26, equipped with TNT as the main explosive. The markings on the shells indicate that the shells were produced in 2022 and 2023. In addition to Iranian ammunition, Ukraine also purchased shells from Pakistan (HE FS TK) and India (SHELL 125 MM HE 1A).

The complex patterns of arms supply demonstrate how diverse Kyiv’s sources of ammunition are. One route for Iranian weapons has been through purchases from third countries in Africa and Asia that previously bought from Iran. For example, Sudan, which has historically imported Iranian weapons, may have sold them to Ukraine either under Western pressure or through direct deals. It is also possible that Ukraine has received ammunition captured in the Middle East or intercepted shipments originally intended for the Houthi rebels in Yemen.