Norway has announced a new aid package for Ukraine: this year, Oslo will allocate 1.2 billion Norwegian kroner (around €109m) for the development and procurement of maritime drones to Ukraine.
The funding, provided under the Nansen Support Programme, will also include deliveries of uncrewed surface vessels from both the Norwegian and the Ukrainian industry.
“Norway is a global leader in the maritime sector. I am pleased that our expertise can also be used to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Ukraine uses maritime drones for reconnaissance and military offensives and to defend themselves against Russian attacks,” said Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
On June 9, Støre met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during the Nordic-Baltic cooperation Prime Ministers’ summit in Tallinn, Estonia. Zelensky attended the meeting as guest of honour.
As emphasised by the Norwegian government, these maritime surface drones will play a crucial role in ensuring the security of grain exports and other goods through the Black Sea.
Norway and the United Kingdom lead the Maritime Capability Coalition in support of Ukraine. Since its establishment in 2023, the government has attached importance to drawing on the expertise found in Norway’s maritime industry to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
“To build on Norway’s support for these efforts, the government has decided to allocate NOK 1.2 billion under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine for the development and procurement of vessels in 2026, with deliveries from both the Norwegian and the Ukrainian industry,” said Støre.
The aim is to deliver the 200th vessel by the end of the year. The vessels will be delivered in different configurations and may carry, among other things, sensors, weapons or airborne drones.
From his side, the minister of defence Tore O. Sandvik highlighted that the cooperation with Ukraine helps to provide Norwegian personnel with useful insight and will enhance the Norwegian Navy’s ability to phase in uncrewed vessels in line with the new long-term defence plan.
As he stressed, it is also an important means of enabling Ukraine to better protect civilian shipping.
The Ukrainian maritime corridor in the Black Sea was established in September 2023. Since then, 200 million tonnes of cargo have been transported through the corridor, more than half of which has been grain.
In recent months, the number of attacks on civilian vessels to and from Ukrainian ports has increased considerably.
