500 days of war: Western military aid for Ukraine

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Western military support to Kyiv continues to grow as the Russia-Ukraine war drags into its 500th day.

Many Western nations that were initially reluctant to give Kyiv heavy arms have since changed tack, ramping up supplies of equipment ranging from heavy tanks to state-of-the-art defense systems.

Projects are also underway to train Ukrainian pilots for the potential delivery of fighter jets, a demand Kyiv has consistently pushed for since the beginning of this year.

- US

Washington has been Ukraine’s staunchest military partner since the start of the war, supplying more weapons and equipment than all other countries combined.

Latest State Department figures show Washington’s total military assistance to Ukraine under President Joe Biden’s administration has exceeded $42 billion, including more than $41.3 billion since the start of the war.

The US has provided vast quantities of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, and defense systems, including over 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and over 70,000 other anti-armor systems and munitions.

Other supplies include 198 15mm Howitzers, 72 105mm Howitzers, eight NASAMS air defense systems, 20 Mi-17 helicopters, 31 Abrams tanks, 186 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and a Patriot air defense battery.

The US has also sent HAWK air defense systems and 20 Avenger air defense systems, as well as a multitude of other high-grade military equipment, vehicles, missiles and ammunition.

- EU

The EU has provided military support to Ukraine amounting to around €15 billion ($16.3 billion), including some €5.6 billion mobilized under the European Peace Facility mechanism.

In addition, the European Commission said it has “adopted the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), aimed at urgently delivering ammunition and missiles to Ukraine.”

ASAP also includes targeted measures such as financing to bolster “the EU’s production capacity and addressing the current shortage of ammunition and missiles as well as their components,” the commission said.

- UK

The UK was the second-largest provider of military aid to Ukraine in 2022 behind the US, with a contribution of £6.5 billion ($8.2 billion) since the start of the war.

A Parliament report published in late May said the UK has sent a range of high-grade weapons, including anti-tank missiles, artillery, air defense systems, armored fighting vehicles, and M270 long-range multiple launch rocket systems.

In January, the UK announced “a significant uplift in combat support, including 14 Challenger II main battle tanks,” followed by a decision in May to supply Kyiv with Storm Shadow missiles and long-range attack drones.

Britain has also set up a long-term training program for the Ukrainian military, aiming to train 30,000 new and existing soldiers by the end of 2023.

In February, the government said the training “would be expanded to include Ukrainian fast jet pilots and marines,” adding that an “elementary flying course for Ukrainian pilots” would likely kick off in the summer this year.

- Germany

Germany was one of the countries initially opposed to contributing with heavy weapons, but eventually gave in to mounting pressure.

German funding for Ukraine in 2023 stands at around €5.4 billion, a significant increase from the €2 billion in arms and equipment it gave out last year.

Berlin’s declared deliveries to Ukraine include five MARS II multiple rocket launchers, 500 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft systems, 34 self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft guns, 14 self-propelled Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers, nine Beaver bridge-laying tanks and two IRIS-T air defense system.

Germany has also given Ukraine 18 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles.

The government has also shared details of deliveries that are either planned or currently being executed, including 110 Leopard 1 main battle tanks, 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 18 wheeled self-propelled RCH 155 howitzers, 18 more Gepard anti-aircraft guns, 16 self-propelled Zuzana 2 howitzers, seven more Beaver bridge-laying tanks and six more IRIS-T air defense systems.

- France

Neither France nor Ukraine have announced the specifics of military support extended by Paris.

Certain deals have been made public, most notably the delivery of six TRF1 155mm howitzers and air defense systems, two Crotales and one SAMP/T, and two LRU multiple rocket launcher units in November, which followed the delivery of 18 Caesar howitzers.

In January, France announced the transfer of AMX-10RC wheeled tanks and additional ACMAT Bastion multipurpose armored personnel carriers.

Other weapons sent by France include Mistral air defense systems, and MILAN, FGM-148 Javelin and Akeron MP anti-tank guided missile systems.

- Canada

Canada has committed more than $1 billion Canadian dollars (over $748 million) in military assistance since the start of the war, according to government figures.

The weapons it has provided include M777 howitzers, Carl Gustav M2 recoilless rifles and up to 4,200 M72 rocket launchers.

Canada has also offered eight Leopard 2A4 tanks and a NASAMS air defense system.

Of the 208 armored vehicles it has pledged, 200 are still in the process of being delivered, along with 39 armored combat support vehicles and air defense missiles, including 288 AIM-7 missiles.

- Poland

In April, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said the country’s military aid to Ukraine amounted to around €3 billion.

Among the weapons Poland has given Ukraine are Piorun anti-aircraft missile systems, a significant number of Krab self-propelled guns, and more than 260 Т-72 tanks in various modifications.

It has also provided various surface-to-air missile systems, such as the S-125 Newa SCs and 9K33 Osa-AK(M), as well as dozens of Leopard 2A4 and PT-91 tanks.

Poland has also transferred four MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine and plans to raise the number to 14.

- The Netherlands

The Netherlands has spent more than €1.9 billion on military aid to Ukraine.

According to Defense Ministry figures, €1.5 billion worth of equipment was directly delivered from the country’s own stock, while the remaining was delivered through other means.

Material assistance provided includes 45 T-72 tanks, 196 YPR-765 infantry fighting vehicles, at least 100 Leopard 1 tanks, 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks and an unspecified amount of Fennek reconnaissance vehicles and Viking tracked vehicles.

It has also given PzH2000 armored howitzers, two Patriot missile defense systems, 100 MR-2 mobile AA guns and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

- Spain

Spain’s military aid to Ukraine includes Aspide missile systems, HAWK air defense systems, anti-tank missile systems, mortars and munitions.

It has also offered over a dozen Leopard 2 tanks and other high-grade weapons to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

On June 15, Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced plans to ship 20 heavy transport vehicles in addition to the 40 already sent, as well as four more Leopard 2 tanks.

- Italy

Immediately after the war erupted, Italy approved military aid for Kyiv worth €110 million.

Since then, Italy has approved six substantial military support packages, including both lethal and non-lethal equipment, according to the Italian Foreign Ministry.

A package announced by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a Feb. 21 visit to Kyiv included a SAMP/T air defense missile system and an unspecified number of Spada and Skyguard air defense systems.

- Finland

Finland’s military support to Kyiv since the start of the war stands at to about €1.2 billion, according to Defense Ministry data.

Finland has just pledged its 17th defense package for Ukraine, which includes anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition.

Major deliveries from Finland include six Leopard 2 tanks and other high-grade weapons.

- Sweden

When the war began, Sweden pledged military aid comprising 5,000 anti-tank weapons, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 body shields, and 135,000 field rations, as well as a fund of 500 million Swedish krona ($47.5 million).

Sweden has sent 10 more military aid packages since then amounting to around $1.5 billion, according to government data.

The country has also offered Archer artillery units, Leopard 2 battle tanks, and parts and ammunition for the HAWK anti-aircraft system.

- Norway

Norway allocated 3 billion Norwegian kroner ($300.4 million) in military support to Ukraine last year, according to government figures.

It has provided M72 light anti-tank weapons, M109 self-propelled artillery and ammunition, Mistral air defense systems, Hellfire missiles, and IVECO armored vehicles among other military aid.

Oslo and Kyiv have also agreed on a multiyear support program, under which 15 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.4 billion) will be provided annually to Ukraine, half of it for military support.

Norway has also said it will give Ukraine two NASAMS firing units in cooperation with the US.

In February, Norway announced it would donate eight Leopard 2 tanks and up to four special-purpose tanks to Ukraine, while it also sent three ARTHUR counter-battery radar systems and eight M270 multiple-launch rocket systems in May.

- Denmark

Denmark has contributed approximately €1.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

It has sent 80 Leopard 1A5 tanks in cooperation with Germany and the Netherlands, another 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks in collaboration with the Dutch.

Denmark has also made two donations of vital air defense systems through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG).

It has also provided 54 M113 G4 armored personnel carriers, land-based Harpoon coastal defense systems, 19 CAESAR 8x8 artillery systems, 407 Stinger missiles, 8,000 RPG-7 rocket launchers, and 5,600 84mm Carl Gustaf grenades.

- Estonia

Estonia has provided nearly €400 million in military assistance to Ukraine, according to government figures.

The Foreign Ministry said the country has sent an unspecified number of 122mm and 155mm towed howitzers, Milan anti-tank missile systems with ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles, anti-tank mines, Carl-Gustaf M2 recoilless rifles with ammunition, Instalaza C90 disposable rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 120mm mortars, 90mm recoilless anti-tank guns, semi-automatic rifles and various other guns.

Estonia has also given vehicles, communications equipment, medical equipment and personal protective equipment.

- Latvia

In March last year, the Defense Ministry said it delivered 90 unmanned aircraft to Ukraine that were donated by Latvian companies.

Later it August, Latvia gave Ukraine two Mi-17 and two Mi-2 helicopters, while the government pledged a defense package in January that included Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, two Mi-17 helicopters, dozens of machine guns with ammunition, and several dozen UAVs.

The Latvian government has pledged to allocate €2 million in funding for contributions to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine in 2023.

Latvia is also expected to have trained nearly 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year.

- Lithuania

On May 25, Lithuania’s Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said the country’s total military support to Ukraine will soon reach €465 million.

Lithuania has given military assistance including Stinger air defense systems, anti-armor weapons, tactical vests and helmets, 120mm mortars, small arms, ammunition, thermal imaging equipment, drones, anti-drone equipment, surveillance radars, M113 armored personnel carriers, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles.

The country has also purchased two NASAMS air defense systems that will be transferred to Ukraine.

Lithuania’s most recent assistance package included NASAMS missile launchers, 10 M113 armored personnel carriers, mortar ammunition and 2.5 million rounds.

In June, Lithuania pledged €6 million along with countries such as the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland for spending €107.5 million on Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

- Greece

At the start of the war, Greece gave Ukraine two C-130 military transport aircraft.

In late May, it agreed with Germany to send BMP-1 armored combat vehicles from its stocks, and has also expressed its willingness to send S-300 air defense systems.

Greece has also sent 40 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, but ruled out the possibility of handing over Leopard 2 tanks.

Several other nations have made significant contributions to Ukraine, both monetary and with equipment, including Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.