The Danish armed Forces extended support to Ukraine

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Denmark, in close cooperation with allies and partners, has taken significant responsibility in supporting Ukraine.

 

As part of the overall support, Denmark contributes Danish soldiers and instructors to a UK-led training project conducted in the United Kingdom. Here, Ukrainian recruits are trained in basic soldiering skills.

 

The Danish Defense has also conducted a training course for non-commissioned officers in Denmark.

 

In 2023, Danish instructors participated in training Ukrainian tank crews on Leopard 1A5 tanks in Germany. During the summer and autumn, the soldiers were trained on 80 refurbished tanks.

 

In the summer of 2023, the Danish Defense began training approximately 70 Ukrainian pilots, technical personnel, and support staff, who are receiving training in basic skills and the prerequisites for flying, servicing, and maintaining F-16 fighter jets. Together with 10 other countries, Denmark has joined a coalition to ensure the training of Ukrainian personnel.

 

The training tasks are an important element in the Western countries' support for Ukraine, and they are tasks that Danish soldiers are well-suited to carry out. The Danish Defense has many years of experience in collaborating with the Ukrainian military, among other things through the Peace and Stabilization Fund, where the Danish Defense has provided support, including advisory services, education, and training of Ukrainian soldiers.

 

The Danish Defense has donated a variety of equipment to Ukraine. Donations, including F-16 fighter jets, artillery, tanks, land-based coastal defense systems, anti-tank weapons, security equipment, first aid kits, and a mobile hospital, support Ukrainian units in their defense of Ukraine.

 

Donations

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Denmark has extended its support to the country. Danish support for Ukraine is carried out in close coordination with the other NATO countries. 

 

Denmark has donated a lot of different military equipment to Ukraine. Donations of, among other things, F-16 fighter aircrafts, main battle tanks, air defense systems, anti-tank weapons, safety equipment, first aid equipment and a mobile hospital, etc. supports the Ukrainian units' defense of Ukraine. Further reading. (The list of donations is in Danish only)

 

Support before February 2022 - Operation Unifier and Orbital

NATO has cooperated with Ukraine since the 1990s. Cooperation intensified in 2014 following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and its support for the self-proclaimed breakaway republics in the Donbas region.

 

Denmark has supported training activities in Ukraine since 2015 during the British-led Operation Orbital. The purpose of Operation Orbital was to train Ukrainian soldiers in basic military skills and operational planning. In addition, the Danish contribution also included a handful of advisors who were placed in various locations at strategic, operational and tactical level respectively and supported with, among other things, reform and educational development in the Ukrainian defense.

 

Danish instructors, advisers, officers and interpreters have thus assisted with individual training and advice in the field of reform and education. The advice and support has taken place in the defense headquarters, educational institutions and in operational units. Here, Ukrainian officers, commanders and privates have received training in everything from first aid, instructor work and Special Forces training to fighting corruption and implementing NATO standards in staff work.

 

Danish instructors, advisers and interpreters are ready to be deployed when it becomes possible to resume work in Ukraine.

 

A Danish instructor teaches Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine before the Russian invasion in February 2022. Photo: Martin Finnedal / Forsvaret