European Commission Disburses €3.9 Billion Loan to Ukraine for Drone Procurement

The European Commission begins disbursement today of €3.9 billion as the first payment under the first tranche of around €6 billion dedicated to drone procurement to Ukraine.

This disbursement follows the Commission's first €3.2 billion instalment to Ukraine under the dedicated Macro-Financial Assistance programme made on 25 June. Further payments will be made in the coming days until the first tranche for drones is fully covered, in accordance with Ukraine's payment requests.

As a country at war, Ukraine's military edge depends on the rapid availability of critical products in the required quantities and within very short timeframes. This is part of the larger €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan, which provides €30 billion for budgetary aid and €60 billion for defence support across 2026 and 2027. In 2026, €28.3 billion of the €60 billion defence package will be disbursed to support Ukraine's defence industrial capacity.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: “Ukraine's ingenuity is at the heart of its success in resisting Russia's full-scale invasion. Ingenuity we want to support. Today, we are releasing a first tranche of €3.9 billion for advanced drone technology to strengthen Ukraine's defence. And more will follow. These investments will help Ukraine protect its citizens, defend its sovereignty, and reinforce Europe's security.”

In line with the Ukraine Support Loan Regulation, the Commission is checking the contracts provided in support of this request. These checks ensure that the financial assistance is used for procurement agreed with the Commission and Member States.

€90 billion Ukraine support funds

In February 2026, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/467 establishing the Ukraine Support Loan (USL). The Regulation provides for up to €90 billion in support to Ukraine. The support is structured around two complementary components: assistance to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities and defence industrial capacities, and support to ensure the continued functioning of the state, maintain essential public services and strengthen economic resilience.

Following Ukraine's submission of its Financing Strategy in March 2026, the Council adopted, on 23 April 2026, an Implementing Decision determining the assistance to be made available to Ukraine in 2026. The Decision provides for up to €45 billion in support for 2026, comprising €16.7 billion in budget support and €28.3 billion in support for Ukraine's defence industrial capacities. The budget support component is split equally between a top-up to the Ukraine Facility and a new Macro Financial Assistance operation, each amounting to up to €8.35 billion. The Commission disbursed the first €3.2 billion instalment to Ukraine under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan on 25 June.

The defence component focuses on the reconstruction, recovery and modernisation of Ukraine's defence technological and industrial base. It aims to strengthen Ukraine's defence industrial readiness and support its gradual integration into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, through close cooperation between the Union and Ukraine.