Finland is among the largest donors of military aid to Ukraine

The value of Finnish military support to the war-torn country has multiplied recently.

A Leopard 2 mine clearance tank. — Last year, Finland sent six Leopard 2 mine-clearing tanks to Ukraine (photo). Image: Puolustusvoimat

During the first year of the war, in 2022, Finland provided Ukraine with 190 million euros in military aid, but by last year that amount had grown to 1.4 billion euros.

In early April, the Finnish Ministry of Defense announced that Finland is donating its 23rd defense aid package to Ukraine, bringing total Finnish donations to approximately two billion euros.

The shipment of military equipment alone was estimated at 188 million euros this month.

Finnish aid to Ukraine has steadily increased since the start of the war. Last year the total was estimated at 1.4 billion euros, a sevenfold increase compared to 2022.

Helmets and vests

At the beginning of the conflict, shipments from Finland consisted of relatively cheap goods compared to the heavy weapons shipped to Ukraine today, according to Charly Salonius-Pasternaka leading researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs (FIIA).

In 2022, Finland shipped items such as body armor, helmets, assault rifles and ammunition, anti-tank weapons and ration packs.

A year later, in 2023, Finland sent six Leopard 2 mine-clearing tanks, anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

Puolustusvoimien kertasinko 66 KES 88 sotilaan olalla. — Anti-tank weapon 66 KES 88 Image: Puolustusvoimat

Puolustusvoimien rynnäkkökivääri RK 62M sotilaan käytössä. — Assault rifle RK 62M Image: Puolustusvoimat

Puolustusvoimien taistelukypärä M20. — M20 combat helmet Image: Puolustusvoimat

Puolustusvoimien luotisuojaliivi M17. — M17 bulletproof vest Image: Puolustusvoimat

Puolustusvoimien kenttähaupitsi 122 H 63 maastossa. — 122mm howitzer D-30 Image: Puolustusvoimat

Puolustusvoimien panssarihaupitsi 122 PSH maastossa. — Howitzer tank Image: Puolustusvoimat

Contents secret

However, the Ministry of Defense has remained relatively closed about the contents of the Finnish aid packages.

“The assistance always takes into account both the needs of Ukraine and the resources of the Finnish military,” the ministry said.

The terminology used to describe some of the defense equipment suggests that Finland may have depleted its stock of outdated defense equipment, Salonius-Pasternak said. That said, the latest deliveries are more valuable in terms of their cost.

The Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki also declined to comment on the content of the Finnish military aid.

“We are extremely grateful for Finland’s extensive support,” the embassy said via email.

Mychailo Samus, who heads the Kiev-based research network New Geopolitics, told Yle that he was not aware of the details of Finnish equipment shipments. However, he stressed that Ukraine would be happy to bring back Soviet-era weapons if Finland still has them on hand.

“Ukrainian soldiers are familiar with Soviet-era weapons, so there is no need for separate training, as with Western weapons,” he explained.

According to the Kiel Institute, which tracks military aid, Finland ranks tenth out of 31 countries. Finnish support for Ukraine exceeds that of France, Italy and Spain, for example.

However, adjusted for gross domestic product, Finland ranks ninth out of 41 countries. Behind Finland are Germany, Sweden and the United States, which recently approved $61 billion in aid to Ukraine.

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Helmets and vests

Contents secret

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