Military support to Ukraine

Arms and equipment

The value of the share of military aid that consists of arms and equipment amounts to around SEK 19 billion.

Support in the form of arms and equipment includes artillery pieces (Archer), main battle tanks (Leopard 2), grenade launchers (Carl Gustaf) with ammunition, anti-tank grenade launchers (AT4), anti-tank guided missiles 57 (NLAW), automatic rifles, demining equipment and combat vehicles 90 (CV 90), helmets, advanced ammunition, anti-ship missiles 17, anti-tank systems, off-road passenger vehicles, winter equipment, sights, bulletproof vests, tents, camouflage netting and air defence systems.

Financial support via funds

The value of the share of military aid that consists of financial support via funds amounts to just over SEK 1.4 billion.

Sweden has made a total financial contribution of SEK 200 million to the NATO Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Parts of this support have been earmarked for winter equipment. In December 2022, Sweden decided on a grant of SEK 200 million to the British International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). Its funds are used for the procurement of defence materiel for Ukraine. In June 2023, it was decided to grant an additional SEK 140 million to IFU. Sweden has also provided support via two transfers, one of SEK 500 million and the other of SEK 577 million, to the National Bank of Ukraine’s fund for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Swedish-Ukrainian procurement cooperation

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) is authorised by the Government to negotiate and enter into international agreements with the competent authority in Ukraine, including for the procurement of defence materiel. The agreement also includes cooperation on support for the establishment and development of a procurement organisation and procurement activities, as well as the sharing of information and experience in this area.

Supply solution for military equipment

The Swedish Armed Forces have been commissioned to implement a supply solution for military equipment systems donated to Ukraine. Within the supply solution, the Swedish Armed Forces may operate with up to 60 people on site in Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Since 2022, Sweden has delivered a large number of different types of military equipment, where the Swedish maintenance support is limited to the preparation of the equipment followed by a shipment to Ukraine. However, more advanced weapons and sensors systems require a longer-term supply solution that includes technical system support, spare parts and replacement units, as well as ammunition, in order to maintain their operational impact over time. The Swedish Armed Forces therefore intend to build up a long-term supply solution for qualified military equipment systems such as air defence system 70, combat vehicle 90, main battle tank 122 and artillery system Archer, which have been donated to Ukraine. The supply system will be created through cooperation between the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and relevant Swedish industry.

The commission will run until 31 December 2025.

Training activities in support of Ukraine

Training in JAS 39 Gripen

The Swedish Armed Forces have been commissioned to provide orientation training for Ukrainian pilots and associated aeronautical personnel in JAS 39. The background to this is that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have expressed a wish to be able to evaluate JAS 39 operationally, since one of the most urgent measures is to strengthen Ukrainian air defence with a NATO-interoperable fighter aircraft system. 

JAS 39 is highly capable of operating in the requested air defence role and as an attack and reconnaissance aircraft. JAS 39 Gripen is fully NATO-interoperable and was developed to be able to operate from scattered road bases, which has proved crucial for the survival of the Ukrainian Air Force. In addition, JAS 39 can be rapidly refuelled and rearmed, where conscripts are used in the preflight inspection and servicing of the aircraft.

EUMAM Ukraine

Since spring 2023, Sweden is participating in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). Swedish instructors are contributing to medical training and infantry battalion training conducted at the Special Training Command (ST-C), one of the mission’s two force headquarters, in Germany. 

Within the framework of EUMAM, Sweden has also conducted training on donated military materiel. The mission provides basic and specialised training for Ukrainian soldiers on EU Member States’ territory. The strategic objective is to strengthen the military capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces so that Ukraine can defend its territorial integrity and effectively exercise its sovereignty.

EUMAM Ukraine is led by the EU’s Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) in Brussels, which serves as a strategic and operational headquarters for the mission. Sweden has contributed personnel reinforcements to the MPCC since the autumn of 2022 and will continue doing so until November 2024. 

Interflex

In addition, Sweden contributes to the British-led Operation Interflex, which conducts basic military training for Ukrainian citizens. In 2022 Sweden participated in the form of 60 staff officers and/or instructors, and will continue to contribute in 2023.

Demining training in Lithuania

On 22 December 2022, the Government decided that Sweden will help train Ukrainian demining sappers. In the project, the Swedish Armed Forces will train 48 Ukrainian instructors who will then train 100 demining sappers each in Ukraine. This means that around 4 800 people will have been trained in demining by the end of the year. The Swedish instructors will be detached from the Swedish EOD and Demining Centre (Swedec), which is Sweden’s centre of excellence for national and international missions in ammunition and demining.

Demining is crucial for the mobility of the Ukrainian units in general, but is particularly important for the mobility of the mechanised infantry units when carrying out an offensive. A high attack rate is then crucial for being able to win terrain while not risking being opposed. Military logistics also rely on mobility, as much of the support that the attacking units require consists of various types of transports. A well-developed demining capability also supports civil society during the war and is of central importance for Ukraine's recovery.

The training is taking place in Lithuania as part of Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) and began in March. Lithuania supports the operation by granting land for use as exercise terrain, and logistics. Instructors from Sweden, Iceland and Norway participate in the training, which will be carried out four times during 2023.