The European Commission has begun disbursing €3.9 billion to Ukraine to finance the procurement of military drones, marking the first payment under a dedicated defence tranche of the EU’s €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan.
The funding forms part of an initial drone package worth around €6 billion and follows a separate €3.2 billion payment made on 25 June under the programme’s macro-financial assistance component. Additional disbursements are expected in the coming days to complete the first drone tranche, in line with Ukraine’s procurement requests.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the funding would support Ukraine’s defence capabilities by accelerating the acquisition of advanced drone technology, describing the investment as essential to protecting Ukrainian citizens, defending the country’s sovereignty and reinforcing Europe’s security.
The Ukraine Support Loan, adopted earlier this year, provides €90 billion in assistance across 2026 and 2027, including €30 billion in budget support and €60 billion for defence. Of the defence allocation, €28.3 billion is scheduled for disbursement in 2026 to strengthen Ukraine’s domestic defence industrial base.
The Commission said it is verifying procurement contracts submitted by Ukraine to ensure that EU funds are used in accordance with agreed conditions. Future defence disbursements will expand beyond drones to include ammunition, missiles and air defence systems.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union and its Member States have committed more than €211 billion in financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine, including funding generated from proceeds of immobilised Russian assets.
This post was published on 30 June 2026 12:09
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