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Danish Military Support for Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Ukraine was attacked by Russia. Since then, Denmark, in close cooperation with allies and partners, has taken significant responsibility in supporting Ukraine. Denmark has provided Ukraine with weapons, equipment, and military training.
Photo: Danish Defence.
The Ukraine Fund ensures long-term support
In March 2023, the Danish government and a broad majority in the Danish Parliament established the Danish National Ukraine Fund to ensure continued Danish support for Ukraine.
Approximately DKK 70,5 billion has been allocated to the Ukraine Fund for military support, including weapons and training initiatives, through 2028.
In addition, the Ukraine Fund supports two other focus areas with separate funding:
- Civil support for urgent humanitarian efforts and long-term reconstruction.
- Business initiatives, where Danish companies assist in rebuilding the country.
Danish military support makes a difference
Danish and allied donations have made a difference, significantly contributing to Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
Denmark’s donation of long-range Harpoon coastal defence missile systems in spring 2022 helped secure Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea, enabling the UN grain deal. Denmark was also the first country to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, strengthening Ukraine's air defence.
Through the so-called "Danish model", Denmark has taken a leading role in financing weapons and military equipment directly from the Ukrainian defence industry.
As of November 21, 2024, Denmark has committed approximately DKK 50 billion in military support for Ukraine under the Ukraine Fund, covering expenditures from 2023 to 2028.
Training and education activities
In addition to donations, Denmark contributes to training and education of Ukrainian soldiers. This includes bilateral initiatives, cooperation with other nations, participation in the EU’s Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) and the Nordic-Baltic-Polish Operation LEGIO.
Other training activities include mine clearance, Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) training, and training on donated equipment, such as Leopard 1 tanks and CAESAR artillery systems. Ukrainian F-16 personnel are also being trained in Denmark until the end of 2024.
Overview of Danish donations
- F-16 fighter jets
- Stinger air defense missiles
- Contribution to multilateral procurement of air defense systems
- Air defense missiles
- Aircraft weapon components
- Surface-to-air missiles
- Anti-aircraft guns and thermal equipment
- Patriot air defense missiles
- Man-portable air defense systems and associated missiles
- Air defense systems and associated missiles
- Air defense missiles
- RHIB boats
- Harpoon coastal defense systems and missiles
- Maritime drones
- Naval missiles
- Maritime capacities
- Various mine clearance equipment
- Mine clearance hoses
- Mine-protected vehicles, including mine rollers
- Mine clearance flails
- Mine plows
- Bomb disposal robots and vehicles for bomb robots
- Mine plows for tanks
- Man-portable mine clearance systems
- Over 140 Leopard 1 tanks, including spare parts, communication equipment, etc.
- 14 Leopard 2 tanks
- CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, including spare parts, ammunition, and maintenance agreements
- Over 25 T-72EA tanks
- Tank ammunition
- Marder infantry fighting vehicles
- 54 M113 armored personnel carriers with armaments
- Biber armored bridge-laying vehicles
- Armored vehicle-launched bridges
- Wisent Armored recovery vehicles, hulls and armament
- Dachs Armored recovery vehicles
- Armored recovery vehicles
- Reactive armor for armored vehicles
- BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles
- Weapon stations and grenade launchers for infantry fighting vehicles
- Artillery shells, including 122mm, 152mm, and 155mm ammunition
- Propellant charges, primers, and fuzes for artillery ammunition
- 122mm artillery rockets
- Heavy mortar systems
- Medium-heavy mortar systems
- Mortar shells
- M109 howitzers for spare parts
- 16 Zuzana-2 artillery systems
- 19 Caesar 8x8 artillery systems, including maintenance
- Caesar 6x6 artillery systems, including maintenance
- Contribution to joint EU ammunition procurement
- Bohdana artillery systems
- 2S1 artillery systems
- Drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, attack, and mine clearance
- Anti-drone systems and equipment
- Grenades for drones
- Solutions and licenses for satellite communications
- Communications equipment and systems
- Cybersecurity solutions
- Hardware and software for building IT infrastructure and data centers
- Military-grade portable PCs
- Command and control systems
- AM radio transmitters
- Toyota Land Cruisers
- Generators
- Firefighting modules and breaching tools
- Heating and release gloves
- Rescue equipment
- Lightweight protective suits
- First aid kits
- Sleeping bags and sleeping mats
- Chemical detectors
- Field camps
- Compress dressings
- Field rations
- Protective equipment
- Fuel
- Anti-tank mines
- Living containers
- Individual soldier equipment
- CBRN package (suits, detectors, decontamination powder)
- Field bridges
- Mobile workshop solutions, including trucks with hook lifts
- Winter gear
- Transport of donations
- Heaters
- Mobile hospital
- Anti-tank weapons and associated missiles
- Hats and rainwear
- Ammunition for small arms
- Heavy machine guns
- Night vision goggles
- Hangar tents
- Night observation binoculars, including thermal scopes
- International positions
- Pistols, rifles, and sniper rifles
- Light machine guns
- Rocket-propelled guns and grenades for them
- Grenade launchers
- Hand grenades
- Deception systems
- Medical supplies
- Evacuation equipment
- Contributions to procurement and donation of medical supplies
- Financial contribution to the donation of medical equipment
- Vehicle recovery equipment
- Naval mines
- Funding for weapons and equipment procurement through Ukraine's defense industry (the Danish model)
- Funding to purchase of critical defence equipment from the United States coordinated by NATO through the "Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List" (PURL)
- Funding to the Czech ammunition initiative
- Support for the International Fund for Ukraine
- Financial aid for Ukraine’s air force
- Contributions to IT, maritime, demining and drone coalitions
- Support for NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package, including winter gear
- Procurement of non-lethal equipment via NATO Support & Procurement Agency
Although there is public interest in Denmark’s military support for Ukraine, not all donations can be disclosed. Decisions on which information can be shared are made carefully to avoid compromising security, operations, or the interests of allies and partners.
These considerations are made in close collaboration with Ukraine, the Danish Armed Forces, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, other relevant ministries, and international partners.
Joint International Assistance to Ukraine
International military support for Ukraine is coordinated through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), the central political and military forum for international support. UDCG is led by the United Kingdom and Germany and includes up to 50 partner countries in addition to Ukraine, NATO and the EU.
Within the UDCG framework, capability coalitions have been established under the leadership of various nations to strengthen military support for Ukraine. These coalitions focus on areas such as air forces, naval forces, artillery, IT, mine clearance, electronic warfare and drones.
The coalitions aim to foster a more comprehensive approach within each area, enabling long-term support options and co-financing. To boost the production of weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, the EU has also strengthened its defence and security policies.
Examples of Partnerships and Coalitions under the Ukraine Defense Contact Group
The UK-led International Fund for Ukraine involves collaboration between Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and others to procure weapons for Ukraine.
Denmark is contributing to the purchase of critical defence equipment from the United States to Ukraine coordinated by NATO through the “Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List” (PURL).
Denmark is contributing to the purchase of critical artillery ammunition through the Czech Ammunition Initiative which is among the strongest suppliers of artillery ammunition to Ukraine.
Denmark corporates with the Ukrainian Non-profit-organization Come Back Alive (CBA) for the procurement of equipment and funding of infrastructure. The initiative is an example on an innovative new Danish support initiative, which strengthens Ukraine’s defence industry while making it possible to fund complete projects and procure more equipment from numerous Ukrainian vendors, than it has previously been possible.
Denmark participates in the Artillery Coalition, led by France and the United States, with involvement from 19 countries and the EU. The coalition aims to strengthen Ukraine’s artillery capabilities, including platforms, ammunition, command and control systems, and training.
Denmark is part of the Maritime Coalition, led by the United Kingdom and Norway. This coalition works with Ukraine to develop its maritime capabilities through personnel training and education as well as the donation of equipment.
Since autumn 2023, Denmark has co-led the international Air Force Coalition with the Netherlands and the United States. The coalition's goal is to assist Ukraine in building a fully operational air force, initially focusing on developing a complete Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet capacity. This effort includes training, aircraft donations, and the establishment of necessary infrastructure and maintenance capabilities.
Denmark is a member of the Ground-Based Air Defense Coalition, led by Germany and France. Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has received various air defense systems. The coalition aims to integrate these systems into a unified network to protect Ukraine from attacks while also supporting ongoing donations of air defense missiles and systems.
Denmark has joined the Drone Coalition, led by Latvia, the UK and Ukraine. Denmark’s involvement primarily focuses on contributing to joint procurement projects to meet Ukraine’s significant needs.
Denmark participates in the Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine, led by Iceland and Lithuania. The coalition supports the development of a comprehensive demining capability within Ukraine’s defence forces through training and equipment donations. Denmark has so far provided financial support to the coalition's fund which procure demining equipment in order to support the development of demining units.
Denmark serves as an observer in the Armor Coalition, led by Poland. This coalition supports the establishment and training of Ukrainian armored units.
Denmark participates in the international IT Coalition, which is led by Estonia and Luxembourg. The coalition supports the digital transformation of Ukraine’s defense sector primarily through donations, tenders, and the procurement of hardware and software solutions in the field of information and communication technology.
Denmark serves as an observer in the newly started Electronic Warfare Coalition. The coalition is led by Germany and Sweden and will focus its work in three lines of effort: 1) systems and components such as long-, medium- and short-range as well as direction finders, spectrum analyzers, receivers and detectors, 2) training and education and 3) policy and doctrine such as command and control (C2), organization and standing operating procedures (SOP).
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Place
Ukraine -
Operation strength
NATO -
Period of time
Fra 2022 -
Current
Yes