Norway will contribute 2.7 billion kroner ($ 241,5 mln) to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy. The funds will, among other things, go to confronting Russia, mine clearance and training Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine needs more support to weaken the Russian maritime forces in the Black Sea going forward. It is necessary to protect the Ukrainian population and infrastructure from attacks by the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It is also important to protect the export of grain and other goods by sea, which provides important income to Ukraine,
says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
Prime Minister Støre announced the new donation from the Norwegian Nansen Program when he was at Haakonsvern together with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. Norway and the United Kingdom lead the Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine, which was launched in December a year ago.The government has previously set aside NOK 100 million ($ 8,9 mln) for measures such as maritime training in 2025. Now the government has decided on a new package of NOK 2.6 billion for various maritime capacities. The support includes both donations from the Armed Forces and equipment donated after procurement from industry. Part of the funds will go to systems that can be used for mine clearance.
Mines are a significant challenge for safe shipping and navigation in the Black Sea, and mine clearance measures are demanding. The systems we are contributing make Ukrainian forces better able to detect and neutralize mines along their own coastline,
says Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram
A large part of the funds will go to efforts within innovation and autonomy in the maritime capabilities coalition. Several specific innovation and development projects are being worked on to strengthen maritime security, says Gram.
The maritime training center in Romania is being supported with up to NOK 130 million ($ 11,6 mln) in 2025. At this center, personnel from several countries, including Norway, train Ukrainian soldiers in maritime operations. The government has also set aside NOK 150 million ($ 13,4 mln) for the purchase of small boats to be donated and for the Armed Forces' contribution to the training and education of Ukrainian small boat operators for river operations at the training center. The funds are part of the NOK 22.5 billion ($ 2 011 514 805) that will go to military support for Ukraine in 2025 through the Nansen program.
The Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine is a Norwegian civilian and military support programme of NOK 75 billion ($ 6,7 bln) covering the period 2023–2027. The distribution between civilian and military support is determined annually in line with Ukrainian needs. In 2023, approximately NOK 19.9 billion was distributed through the Nansen Support Programme: NOK 8.9 billion in civilian and humanitarian support and NOK 11 billion in military support.
Source: Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian)
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