We ask Estonian nationals currently in Ukraine to leave the country at the earliest opportunity and return to Estonia. Due to Russia’s military action, we advise against any travel to Ukraine. We urge all Estonian nationals in Ukraine to register their stay at the Reisi Targalt website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or call +372 5301 9999.

Estonia’s aid to Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. An aggression against a sovereign state in the heart of Europe has threatened the security of all of Europe and the values we cherish. This is why Russia’s war against Ukraine has united us – in Estonia and in the international community in general. Throughout this year, Estonia has made every effort to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine. We have supported Ukraine politically, economically and militarily, we have ensured crucial humanitarian aid and launched reconstruction efforts, with a focus on civilian sites and infrastructure. Our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is unwavering and we will continue providing comprehensive assistance to Ukraine until it has won the war.

Defence assistance – €400 million

Estonia was one of the first countries to provide Ukraine with defence assistance even before the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war on 24 February 2022, sending Javelin anti-tank missile systems that arrived in Ukraine on 22 February.

Estonia has provided nearly EUR 400 million, or more than 1% of GDP, worth of military assistance to Ukraine. Previous donations have included missiles for the Javelin anti-tank missile system, howitzers, anti-tank mines, anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars, vehicles, communication equipment, medical supplies, personal protective equipment (helmets, etc.) and dry food packages. In cooperation with Germany, Estonia has donated two field hospitals and medical supplies worth nearly EUR 15 million to Ukraine. Estonia is donating a third field hospital to Ukraine in cooperation with the Netherlands and Norway, which provided EUR 7.8 million in support for the project.

Estonia’s newest assistance package includes semi-automatic rifles, sniper rifles, sights, binoculars, ammunition, individual and special equipment, patrol boats, and thermal cameras. In addition, medical equipment is being donated. The total value of the military aid is EUR 494,300. By donating equipment, the training and wartime capabilities of the Defence Forces do not suffer.

Weapons

122 mm and 155 mm towed howitzers, Milan anti-tank missile systems with ammunition, Javelin anti-tank missiles, anti-tank mines, Carl-Gustaf M2 recoilless rifles with ammunition, Instalaza C90 disposable rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 120 mm mortars, 90 mm recoilless anti-tank guns, semi-automatic rifles and various handguns with ammunition

Equipment

Vehicles, communications equipment, medical equipment, personal protective equipment (helmets, flak jackets etc.), dry food packs and about 10 000 sets of winter uniforms (jackets, trousers, shirts, socks, boots) and thousands of camouflage suits

Training

Basic training for soldiers, STV training, sniper training, cyber training, both bilaterally and under the EU’s military assistance mission in Ukraine EUMAM

Field hospitals

Three mobile field hospitals ROLE2 already donated and one is on the way. The first two were sent in cooperation with Germany, the third one was sent in cooperation with the Netherlands and Norway (the cost of one hospital is €7.8 million). The fourth field hospital will be provided in cooperation with Iceland.

Humanitarian aid – €23.1 million

According to estimates, the people, state, private sector and civil society organisations of Estonia have donated €23.1 million to Ukraine. Our humanitarian aid is aimed at areas worst affected by the war, at refugees and displaced persons, and international organisations.

  • The Estonian public sector has given humanitarian aid worth €4.1 million to Ukraine via international organisations (UNHCR, OCHA, ICRC), Estonian civil society organisations and the Estonian Red Cross, as well as in material assistance.
  • We have helped refugees, ensured shelter and essential goods, and sent rescue and firefighting equipment, IT equipment, generators, warm clothes and blankets to Ukraine, and provided financial assistance for buying fuel.

Development cooperation and reconstruction in Ukraine – €6 million

Estonia is among the first countries to already begin reconstruction in Ukraine, focusing on the Zhytomyr Oblast. Construction on an energy-efficient kindergarten in town of Ovruch has been done in less than a year, with Estonia allocating €1.9 for that purpose. Additional support was given for rebuilding the bridge in town of Malyn .

  • In 2022, Estonia co-organised two regional reconstruction conferences – in Zhytomyr in September and in Tallinn in December.
  • Estonia is prepared to organise a reform conference of Ukraine in 2025.
  • In 2022, Estonia continued implementing the 25 projects of Estonia’s development cooperation in areas such as digital transition, education, good governance and entrepreneurship. The projects were worth more than €3 million in total.

Ukrainian refugees in Estonia

More than 40 000 refugees from Ukraine have applied for temporary protection in Estonia, which is more than 3% of our population.

  • Ukrainian refugees can enjoy the opportunities of Estonia’s labour market, social protection, healthcare and education. Estonia allocated around €220 million from its 2022 budget for receiving refugees from Ukraine.
  • In August 2022, a special school was established in Tallinn for 570 Ukrainian students – the Freedom School. The school mostly follows Estonia’s national curriculum but continues teaching Ukrainian language and culture. One third of the teachers are Ukrainians who are also refugees themselves.

Political support

Sanctions

Since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, the European Union has continued to impose sanctions against Russia. Ten sanctions packages have been imposed so far, aimed at raising the cost of the aggression for Russia and, with other foreign policy measures, pressure Russia into ending its unjustified aggression in Ukraine.

From the start of Russia’s aggression, Estonia has stood up for making EU sanctions packages against Russia as severe and effective as possible. The sanctions have been adopted in close cooperation with the G7 and their efficiency is increased by the fact that more than 40 countries have imposed similar measures.

Accountability for Russia

  • Russia is violating international humanitarian law and human rights in Ukraine and has committed the gravest international crimes. Estonia’s objective is to ensure complete accountability for perpetrators for their crimes, such as war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
  • Estonia supports the investigation into the situation in Ukraine launched by the International Criminal Court and was among the 43 countries who submitted a proposal to the prosecutor to launch an investigation. Estonia was among the first countries to respond to the appeal and send four long-term experts to assist the prosecutor.
  • As the crime of aggression in Ukraine is not within the mandate of the International Criminal Court, a solution must be found for bringing the Russian head of state and his accomplices to justice. Estonia advocates for creating an international mechanism for investigating the crime of aggression. Estonia supports establishing an international special tribunal for processing the crime of aggression that would have broad UN support.
  • On 21 April 2022, the Riigikogu adopted the declaration titled “On the War Crimes and Genocide Committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine”, recognising the events in Ukraine as genocide against the people of Ukraine.

Freezing assets and using them for reconstruction in Ukraine

  • Estonia is looking for ways to introduce a new legal mechanism that would make it possible to help Ukraine, in Estonia and across the EU, using frozen assets of individuals connected to Russia and Russia’s aggression.
  • According to estimates, there are a total of €300 billion worth of frozen Russian assets in EU and G7 countries. There are about €19 million worth of frozen Russian assets in Estonia.

Support to Ukraine in EU and NATO accession

  • Estonia supports Ukraine’s path to the European Union and NATO.
  • On 23 June 2022, the European Council gave Ukraine the status of a European Union candidate country. Estonia supports Ukraine to ensure the smooth completion of steps necessary for launching accession negotiations.
  • At NATO’s 2022 summit in Madrid, the continued open door policy of the Alliance was reiterated. Ukraine still has a NATO membership perspective, as was stated at NATO’s 2008 summit.

 

Last updated: 31.05.2023