Estonian defence minister resigns over €70m EU arms deal
By The BriefBrief
Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur resigned after a procurement scandal involving €70 million in EU European Peace Facility funds used to buy artillery shells for Ukraine. ERR said the 2024 deal paid upfront to companies with no prior record of producing shells, and Estonia is disputing the contracts in arbitration.
WHO:Hanno Pevkur
WHAT:Pevkur announced his resignation over an EU-funded procurement scandal tied to artillery shell contracts for Ukraine.
WHEN:Sep 2, 2026
WHERE:Estonia
WHY:He said political responsibility is raised by National Audit Office criticisms of Defence Forces and the Centre for Defence Investments over the EU-funded shell procurement.
