Humanitarian and civilian support to Ukraine

Sweden has long provided extensive development assistance to Ukraine comprising both reform-oriented development cooperation and humanitarian support. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden has provided over SEK 11.3 billion in humanitarian and civil support (as of 6 February 2025). Starting from 2025, Sweden has made a long-term commitment of at least SEK 5.6 billion per annum in civil support to Ukraine, in accordance with the Government’s budget proposal approved by the Riksdag in December 2024.

Sweden’s development assistance to Ukraine includes support to humanitarian organisations, support to promote women’s and girls’ opportunities and rights, and civilian crisis management in the form of donations of medical supplies, fire protection, generators and tents. Sweden also provides substantial amounts to the Ukraine’s reconstruction and reform efforts in connection with its path to EU accession.

Humanitarian support

Since 2022, Swedish humanitarian assistance to Ukraine has amounted to approximately SEK 2.3 billion. This includes measures via organisations that effectively provide the Ukrainian people and refugees with supplies, mainly via the World Food Programme (WFP), the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC, IFRC and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society – URCS), the UN’s Country-Based Pooled Fund for Ukraine, Save the Children, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)’, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, Action Against Hunger and the International Rescue Committee. Sweden has also supported the transportation of wheat to help mitigate the effects of war for vulnerable countries through WFP, and has given support to Ukraine’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative.

Financial support

As a result of Russia’s aggression, Ukraine has lost its access to international capital markets. In addition to regular core support to the World Bank, Sweden has also issued a guarantee of around SEK 500 million to Ukraine. The Government has also provided Ukraine with support totalling SEK 720 million via the World Bank. This support strengthens Ukraine’s capability to maintain critical public functions such as payments of salaries and pensions for public employees as well as repairs of the energy and housing infrastructure. Sweden provides Ukraine’s national budget with further financial support through the EU. The financial support package totals SEK 1.44 billion.

Civilian crisis management

Swedish support for civilian crisis management totals approximately SEK 985 million. Through MSB, Sweden has also provided emergency aid in several forms, including the coordination and transportation of medical supplies, medevac transport of wounded and sick people for care in Sweden, mine clearance, protective equipment, fire protection, emergency shelters, power grid equipment and generators.

Reconstruction

So far, the Government has provided Ukraine with approximately SEK 7.6 billion its reconstruction and reform efforts. This includes support for the sustainable reconstruction of damaged infrastructure via the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank’s Ukraine fund and the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco), the Energy Community’s Energy Support Fund for Ukraine, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Eurocontrol. Sweden also has the responsibility for coordinating waste management in Ukraine following an agreement with President Volodomyr Zelenskyy in mid-2022.

Reform support

In mid-2023, the Government adopted a strategy for Sweden’s reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine for 2023–2027. The strategy comprises a total of SEK 9 billion and is Sweden’s largest-ever bilateral strategy.

Strategy for Sweden’s reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine 2023–2027

The goal of the strategy is to give Ukraine’s reconstruction and reform efforts impactful and long-term support. The efforts strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and democratic development which will also help the country’s resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The strategy contributes to Ukraine’s EU integration and strengthens the country’s freedom, resilience and economic well-being.

The strategy is implemented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swedish Institute (SI) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA).

In 2023–2024, support through the strategy amounted to SEK 3.8 billion.

Sweden has supported Ukraine since its independence and provided it with assistance through Sida and other financial means since 1998. Over the years, the support has focused on inclusive economic development, gender equality, the environment and energy, democracy and human rights, independent media, support to civil society, decentralisation reform and the reform of public administration, peacebuilding and resilience.