The European Union has disbursed the first €3.9 billion ($4.2 billion) installment of a €6 billion drone-production tranche to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
"Ukraine's ingenuity lies at the heart of its success in resisting Russia's full-scale invasion. It is this ingenuity that we want to support. Today, we are providing a first €3.9 billion for advanced drone technology to strengthen Ukraine's defense. More will follow," von der Leyen wrote.
The payment is part of the EU's €90 billion loan for Ukraine, approved in April after months of delay caused by Hungary's veto. According to the EU officials, the defense portion of the tranche was held up by extended vetting of drone-supply contracts. "These checks ensure that financial assistance is used for procurement agreed upon with the commission and member states," an EU official said. The remaining payments within the €6 billion tranche are expected "in the coming days," officials added.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko confirmed receipt of the funds, saying they will go toward domestic drone production, strengthening the defense-industrial complex, and covering urgent frontline supply needs.
The drone tranche follows a separate €3.2 billion ($3.4 billion) budget-support installment that landed during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk on 25–26 June.
Under the €90 billion loan, Ukraine's Finance Ministry has said the country is set to receive €45 billion in both 2026 and 2027. Of this year's allocation, €16.7 billion is earmarked for social and budget support and €28.3 billion for defense needs. Overall, about €30 billion of the two-year total will go to budget support through existing financial-assistance instruments, with the remaining €60 billion directed to military aid.
