Humanitarian and civilian support to Ukraine

Sweden has long provided aid to Ukraine in the form of both reform-oriented development cooperation and humanitarian support. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden has provided Ukraine with more than SEK 5.2 billion in humanitarian and civilian support (20 June 2023). This includes increased aid through support to humanitarian organisations, support for women’s and girls’ rights and opportunities, and donations of medical supplies, fire protection, generators and tents for civilian crisis management. Sweden also provides support to Ukraine’s reform efforts and recovery.

Humanitarian support

Sweden's humanitarian support to Ukraine amounts to around SEK 2.04 billion. It includes contributions via organisations that are effective in providing the Ukrainian people and refugees with medicines, food and other essential items via primarily the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Ukraine Red Cross Society, the UN’s Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, Save the Children, UNICEF, UNHCR, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, Action against Hunger, and the International Rescue Committee. Sweden has also supported shipments of 50 000 tonnes of wheat via the WFP to alleviate the consequences of the war for vulnerable countries, and has given SEK 100 million in support to ‘Grain from Ukraine’, a Ukrainian initiative.

Financial support

Ukraine has lost access to international capital markets due to Russian aggression. In addition to regular core contributions to the World Bank, Sweden has extended a guarantee of approximately SEK 500 million to Ukraine. In December, the World Bank announced further support to Ukraine of SEK 600 million. The support will go to key investments in the energy sector, Ukrainian agriculture, and the education and housing sectors to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term resilience. In total, this amounts to SEK 1.1 billion.

Civilian crisis management

The support for civilian crisis management amounts to around SEK 800 million. Via MSB, Sweden has contributed emergency assistance in the form of the coordination and transportation of medical supplies, medical evacuations of the wounded and sick for care in Sweden, mine clearance, protective equipment, fire protection, emergency accommodation, electricity network equipment, and generators.

Recovery

So far, the Swedish Government has provided approximately SEK 765 million for recovery efforts in Ukraine. These include support for the sustainable reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank’s Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF) and the Nordic Green Bank Nefco, Energy Community’s Ukraine Energy Support Fund, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Eurocontrol. Sweden is also responsible for coordinating waste management in Ukraine under an agreement concluded with President Zelensky in summer 2022.

Reform support

Ukraine’s reform needs are great, and to July 2023 Sweden had provided annual bilateral reform support to Ukraine under the Strategy for Sweden’s reform cooperation with Eastern Europe 2021–2027. In 2022, this support amounted to over SEK 335 million and included efforts for inclusive economic development, gender equality, the environment and energy, democracy and human rights, free and independent media, support for civil society, decentralisation and public administration reform, peacebuilding and resilience.

In July 2023, the Government adopted a new bilateral strategy for Sweden’s recovery and reform aid to Ukraine – the Strategy for Sweden’s recovery and reform cooperation with Ukraine 2023–2027 – which has been transferred out of the strategy for Eastern Europe.

Support for free and independent media, cybersecurity, accountability, nuclear safety and gender equality

Sweden has provided additional support to journalists and independent media in Ukraine via extra aid of SEK 5 million to the Prague Civil Society Centre, and of SEK 2 million to the Gazeta Wyborzca Foundation.

Support of SEK 2 million has gone to projects to improve robustness in Ukraine’s internet access, resist cyberattacks and loss of service, and secure access to important digital information.

To support accountability, Sweden increased its support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2022 by SEK 7 million. In addition, the Swedish Prosecution Authority and the Swedish Police Authority work actively to contribute national experts to the ICC.

Support of SEK 20 million for improved nuclear safety via the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) contributes to the IAEA’s regular rotation missions to the nuclear power plants in Ukraine.

Support totalling SEK 120 million has been earmarked for Ukraine for efforts in the areas of gender equality via UN Women, and sexual and reproductive health and rights via the United Nations Population Fund.

In addition, support to Ukraine of SEK 22 million has been provided via the OECD’s Country Programme over four years, in earmarked support of SEK 30 million for Ukraine via the UN body the International Organization for Migration (IOM), SEK 3 million via the Organisation for the Prohibition.