The European Union has allocated €1.24 billion to Ukraine to strengthen its air defence and military capabilities as Russia intensifies its aerial attacks on the country.
The European Commission announced on Wednesday that the funding will support Ukraine’s purchase of domestically produced drones, drone interceptors, drone ammunition and locally manufactured munitions.
The latest financial package is aimed at helping Ukraine respond to Russia’s increasingly aggressive air campaign and protect critical infrastructure and civilians.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the funding would strengthen Ukraine’s defence industry and its ability to protect its people and infrastructure from what she described as Russia’s deliberate tactics of terror.
“Today’s funding will bolster Ukraine’s defence sector and Ukraine’s capacity to protect itself,” von der Leyen said.
The announcement comes as Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, with Moscow stepping up aerial attacks in recent weeks. The intensified strikes have placed Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on near-continuous alert, disrupting daily life and increasing pressure on the country’s air-defence systems.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi welcomed the EU’s commitment, saying the funds would help address Ukraine’s most pressing defence requirements.
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The need for additional air-defence capabilities has become increasingly urgent following deadly attacks across Ukraine. After strikes in the Chernihiv region and the cities of Dnipro and Kremenchuk on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said air-defence packages were an immediate priority for the country.
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The €1.24 billion allocation forms part of the EU’s broader Ukraine Support Loan, which provides €90 billion in funding for 2026 and 2027. Around two-thirds of the package is earmarked for Ukraine’s military and defence needs.
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Brussels plans to provide €28.3 billion in defence-related funding to Ukraine during 2026, with additional allocations expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The latest commitment underscores the EU’s continued efforts to reinforce Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia’s ongoing military offensive.