WARSAW, June 30 — Poland will increase its annual production of artillery shells fivefold, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Sunday during the launch of a major new defense project at the Mesko plant in Starachowice. The move is aimed at strengthening Poland’s military capabilities and reinforcing support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war.
The planned ramp-up will raise output from approximately 30,000 to between 150,000 and 180,000 shells per year, according to Morawiecki. The announcement coincided with the start of an expansion program at the state-owned Mesko facility, a key part of Poland’s defense industrial base.
“This project is not just about modernizing our army — it’s about standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and sending a clear message: Poland and NATO will not look away,” Morawiecki said, as quoted by the Financial Times.
$660 million investment to expand Mesko’s capacity
The production boost forms part of Poland’s broader national defense modernization strategy. The government has allocated around 2.4 billion zloty (roughly $660 million) to upgrade and expand domestic munitions manufacturing. These investments will enhance Poland’s ability to meet both its own defense needs and those of key allies, particularly Ukraine.
The Mesko plant, operated by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), will undergo significant upgrades to increase its output of NATO-standard ammunition. This will help address critical shortfalls in artillery shells, which have become essential in Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russian aggression.
NATO alignment and EU security context
While some Western governments have begun to waver in their levels of support for Kyiv, Poland is reinforcing its role as a front-line provider of military aid. Officials emphasized that the shell production surge is not only about national readiness but also about collective European and transatlantic security.
“This is a strategic signal,” a senior defense official told reporters. “Poland is not waiting for others to act — we are building capacity now to ensure Ukraine and Europe are not left vulnerable.”
The initiative is aligned with broader NATO and EU efforts to ramp up arms production across the continent in response to the war’s demands. Defense experts have warned that gaps in ammunition stockpiles could hinder Ukraine’s battlefield effectiveness unless long-term supply chains are secured.
Poland sees Russia as primary security threat
The move also reflects Poland’s growing recognition that Russia poses a direct and escalating threat to regional stability. Polish officials have repeatedly stated that without a secure and sovereign Ukraine, Russian aggression could eventually reach NATO’s eastern frontier.
“Supporting Ukraine is not charity — it’s self-defense,” Morawiecki said, underscoring Warsaw’s belief that Moscow’s ambitions will not end at the Dnipro River.
By embedding its defense modernization in both national and alliance-level strategies, Poland is positioning itself as a pivotal actor in Europe’s response to the war, reinforcing the message that sustained military support for Ukraine remains a strategic necessity.
