📋 Tender Overview
Norway will contribute 2.7 billion kroner to strengthen the Ukrainian naval defense. The funds will be used, among other things, to protect people in Ukraine from attacks, mine clearance and training of 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.
Collaboration with the British
Prime Minister Støre announced the new donation from the Norwegian Nansen Programme when he was at Haakonsvern together with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. Norway and the UK lead the Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine, which was launched in December a year ago.
The government has previously set aside NOK 100 million 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.
Mine clearance
"Mines are a significant challenge to 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 defuse 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 capability coalition. Work is underway on several specific innovation and development projects to strengthen maritime security, says Gram.
Training of Ukrainian soldiers
The maritime training center established through the Capability Coalition is being supported with up to NOK 130 million in 2025. At this center, personnel from several countries, including Norway, are training Ukrainian soldiers in maritime operations. The government has also set aside NOK 150 million 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 that will go to military support for Ukraine in 2025 through the Nansen program.
