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Denmark's shells and Avdiivka's southern losses
Summary
On 18 February 2024, Copenhagen pledged its entire artillery shell stock to Ukraine as Ukrainian forces gave up ground in Avdiivka.
What did Ukraine's partners owe it as its troops lost ground in Avdiivka? On 18 February 2024, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen gave one answer: Denmark would donate all of its artillery shells to Ukraine.
The announcement came two days after Ukraine said it was withdrawing its troops from positions in the south of Avdiivka, amid heavy clashes with Russian forces for control of the city. The withdrawal followed a day after Russian soldiers entered the city from multiple directions, as reported at the time.
A pledge of everything
The Danish commitment was notable for its scope. It was not a share of a stockpile or a partial transfer: the government said it would hand over all of its artillery shells. For a country engaged in a fight dominated by artillery, that was a direct, material contribution.
A long battle reaches a critical stage
Russian forces had launched an offensive to capture Avdiivka, a city in Donetsk Oblast, on 10 October 2023, after more than a year and a half of intermittent fighting along its outskirts. The battle was considered one of the bloodiest and fiercest of the war.
By 18 February 2024, then, the two developments sat side by side: a Ukrainian pullback from southern positions in a city under assault from several directions, and a Western government emptying its shell stocks for Kyiv. The Danish decision showed how far one partner was prepared to go in supplying ammunition while the fighting around Avdiivka intensified.
