EU countries stored arms and ammunition in Ukraine

Sending arms to the Kiev administration has been on the agenda of the EU and its member states since February 24, 2022, when Russia started the war in Ukraine.

After the war, the EU decided, for the first time in its history, to finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other military equipment. The EU treaties prohibit the Union from using its ordinary budget to finance military operations. To do this, the EU used the extra-budgetary European Peace Fund. In this context, on February 26, first aid was delivered to the value of 500 million euros. The EU also launched a mission to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers in November 2022.

The amount of military aid provided by the EU to Ukraine within the scope of the said fund has so far reached 3.6 billion euros.

The delivery of military equipment is within the jurisdiction of the member states.

Although Ukraine’s demands for heavy weapons, modern tanks, long-range missiles and fighter jets sparked ongoing debates in EU countries, many EU countries, especially Germany, sent military equipment to Ukraine within a year.

AA correspondents collected military aid from European countries to Ukraine on the first anniversary of the war from the local press and open official sources.

GERMANY

After lengthy discussions, Germany finally decided to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 main battle tanks to Ukraine. Delivery of the tanks is expected by the end of March.

Germany, which had previously sent 3 IRIS-T SLM missile and air defense systems and one PATRIOT missile air defense system, 37 GEPARD armored anti-aircraft tanks and their approximately 6,000 munitions, 500 STINGER and 2,700 STRELA anti-aircraft missiles and the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway and 155 mm howitzers with joint projects.

Germany also has rocket launchers, air surveillance radars, Mi-24 spare parts, reconnaissance drones, drone defense sensors, signal jammers, trailers, trailer units, minesweepers and clearance vehicles and tanks, heavy bridge systems. and medium armored vehicles and various light vehicles and heavy vehicles ammunition shipped.

FRANCE

Since the beginning of the war, France has provided military aid to Ukraine worth 550 million euros.

In addition to helmets, protective vests, night vision binoculars and medical aids, French soldiers trained 400 members of the Ukrainian army.

France, which has sent some 100 AMX10-RC type light battle tanks, hundreds of anti-tank missiles, including 6 TRF1 guns and 18 CAESAR guns, and 2 LRU-type multiple rocket launchers, has pledged to send hundreds of Mistral air defense missiles. and Crotale and Mamba SAMP-T air defense systems.

HOLLAND

In 2022, the Netherlands supplied Ukraine with ammunition, equipment and weapons, including 200 Stinger missiles, 50 FIM-92 Stinger launchers, 50 DM72A1 anti-tank shells, €15 million worth of AMRAAM missiles, and an unspecified number of Harpoon missiles.

The Netherlands, which delivered 90 T-72 tanks to Ukraine as part of a heavily armed 120 million euro military support package with the US to be delivered to Ukraine.

It was also reported that the Dutch Defense Ministry will contribute to the training of Ukrainian soldiers for Leopard tanks.

In addition, it was noted that two launchers of air defense systems and several missiles will be supplied to Ukraine, 65 Dutch soldiers will train 400 Ukrainian servicemen in Patriot air defense systems.

The Netherlands also announced that it is considering sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and 2.5 billion euros of the 2023 budget is set aside for Ukraine to send military and humanitarian aid.

ITALY

Since the beginning of the war, Italy has provided weapons in different sizes in accordance with 5 different decrees approved by its parliament throughout 2022.

According to information reflected in the Italian press, 450 million euros of aid was delivered to Ukraine with the 5 separate decrees in question. Among them, the exact number is not known; It had 155 mm howitzers, MILAN anti-tank missiles, 120 mm mortars, different machine guns and their arsenals, armored personnel carriers, trucks, and first-aid kits.

In January, the Italian parliament adopted the sixth decree extending arms aid to Ukraine by 2023, including the Samp-T air defense system and missiles.

SPAIN

At the beginning of the Spanish aid, Hawk and Aspide air defense systems, cannon ammunition, military winter uniforms, 22 light military vehicles and 30 ambulances came.

Spain delivered to Ukraine 6.7 million rifles and pistols with silencers and optical sights for them, 7.2 million grenades, smoke capsules, mines, demolition bombs, torpedoes and rockets, 3.7 million armored , helmets, winter coats and protective uniform sent.

Although the Spanish government has also announced that it will send 4 to 6 Leopard tanks to Ukraine, this has not happened yet.

POLAND

Poland, which has delivered 250 Soviet-type tanks to Ukraine, plans to deliver 60 modern tanks, including 14 Leopard 2s, to Ukraine within the next month, with 1,000 pieces of ammunition.

Poland also sent multiple rocket launchers, surface-to-air missile systems, self-propelled artillery systems, air-to-air missile systems, reconnaissance drones, man-portable air defense systems, mortars, and more than 40,000 helmets.

In addition to S-60 anti-aircraft guns with 70,000 ammunition, Poland donated training packages for 42 infantry fighting vehicles and two mechanized battalions. In addition, Poland continues to deliver 155mm KRAB howitzers and various ammunition to Ukraine.

Warsaw remains one of the most active donor countries to help Ukraine, both in terms of aid to the population and supply of military equipment, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced on February 14. The amount of military support given to Ukraine is estimated at 2.2 billion euros. Furthermore, Ukrainian soldiers are trained in Poland.

ESTONIA

Estonian shipments include dozens of 155mm and 122mm howitzers and thousands of shells for them, more than a hundred Carl Gustaf anti-tank guns and more than a thousand ammunition.

In the statement made on January 19, it was stated that with an additional 113 million euros, a total of 370 million euros would be given to Ukraine.

An unspecified number of FH70 howitzers and 7 Alvis 4 protected mobility vehicles were also sent from Estonia to Ukraine as part of the aid.

LITHUANIA

Lithuania has provided 240 million military support to Ukraine so far. Delivering L70, Howitzer anti-aircraft guns and two Mi-8 helicopters, Lithuania also sent a large number of armored vehicles, thermal cameras and drones.

LATVIA

Latvia has provided around 370 million euros in military support to Ukraine since the start of the war.

The country is known to have sent 30 truckloads of individual equipment and supplies (including combat helmets, dry food, medical devices, and medicines) to Ukraine at the start of the war.

The Riga administration provided Kiev with 10 Stinger anti-aircraft guns, additional air defense elements, 2 M-17 helicopters, machine guns, UAVs and spare parts for the M109 howitzer. In addition, two Mil Mi-8MTV-1 and two Mil Mi-2 helicopters were sent along with the “M109 Paladin” artillery system, the numbers of which were not clear before.

Latvia plans to train around 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year in programs ranging from basic infantry training to specialized courses.

GREECE

Right after the start of the war in Ukraine, Greece decided to send military supplies to Ukraine in February 2022.

In the statement made by the Office of the Greek Prime Minister on February 27, 2022, it was noted that a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis with the participation of the Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panayotopoulos and the Head of State Major Konstandinos Floros. Within the framework of the meeting, in response to Ukraine’s request, Greece, in consultation with its NATO and EU allies, decided to send military supplies via Poland via 2 C-130 aircraft.

After reaching an agreement with Germany, Greece sent 20 BMP-1 type armored vehicles to Ukraine.