Latvia and the Defense of Ukraine: the Evolution of Military Support

After the start of the full-scale invasion, the Baltic states became some of the most active supporters of increased military assistance to Kyiv. For Latvia, this war has a direct security dimension, as Russian aggression is seen in Riga as a threat to the stability of the entire Baltic region. Despite its limited resources, the country has become one of Ukraine’s leading allies in terms of aid as a share of its GDP. Throughout the war, Latvian support gradually expanded: from the transfer of weapons from armed forces stockpiles to participation in international initiatives and the development of technological cooperation.

As early as the beginning of 2022, the Latvian leadership publicly declared its readiness to provide military aid to Ukraine. The first practical decisions in this direction were made on the eve of the Russian invasion. On 17 January 2022, the Latvian government approved the transfer of Stinger man-portable air-defense systems and ammunition to Ukraine. To implement this decision, Riga obtained the necessary permission from the United States, as the manufacturer of these systems. At the same time, Latvia began active diplomatic work with its allies to strengthen military support for Ukraine in the event of an escalation.

In the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, Latvia transferred batches of small arms, ammunition, personal protective equipment and various military materiel to Ukraine. In addition, supplies of fuel, dry rations, medical equipment and other logistical resources necessary for combat operations were organized.

One of the important steps was the Latvian government’s decision on 28 February 2022 to allocate additional financial resources for military aid to Ukraine. In the following months, Latvia transferred new batches of weapons to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, ammunition of various calibers, communications equipment, optics and military materiel. A significant part of this aid came from the stockpiles of the Latvian armed forces.

At the same time, active political support for Ukraine began at the international level. In April 2022, the Latvian parliament was one of the first in Europe to recognize Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian people. In the second half of 2022, Latvia continued to transfer military equipment and technology, gradually expanding the range of aid. At the same time, Latvia began to participate more actively in international formats of support for Ukraine, in particular in the work of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Throughout 2022, the Latvian leadership consistently advocated tougher sanctions against Russia and the expansion of military assistance to Ukraine by its allies.

Heavy weapons and equipment

During 2022–2023, Latvian military aid to Ukraine gradually expanded and began to include the transfer of artillery systems, aviation equipment and other types of military materiel. One of the most notable decisions was the announcement on 21 July 2022 of the transfer of heavy military equipment to Ukraine. The aid package included four military transport helicopters that had been in service with the Latvian armed forces. These were two Mi-17 and two Mi-2 helicopters, which, after technical preparation, were transferred to Ukraine via Poland. These aircraft are used to transport military personnel, evacuate the wounded and perform logistical tasks in the combat zone.

At the same time, Latvia began to transfer artillery systems and ammunition to Ukraine. In 2022, the aid packages included artillery pieces, significant quantities of ammunition of various calibers and equipment for their maintenance. The transfer of artillery became an important component of support for Ukraine, as artillery systems play a key role in modern high-intensity warfare.

In addition, Latvia transferred a significant number of military vehicles to Ukraine, including trucks, off-road vehicles and other equipment used to support combat units. The aid packages also included optical surveillance devices, communications equipment, thermal-imaging devices, generators, fuel tanks, and other logistical equipment necessary to support the Ukrainian army’s operations.

Throughout 2023, Latvian military aid continued to expand. On 10 January 2023, the Latvian government announced a new support package that included anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, ammunition, drones and personal equipment for the military. This package was aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Ukrainian units in both air defense and tactical combat operations.

Later that year, Latvia transferred short-range air-defense systems designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles to Ukraine. The transfer of these systems was a response to Russia’s active use of strike drones, including Iranian-made Shahed drones, in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

 Training Ukrainian military personnel and expanding military partnerships

In 2023, one of the key areas of cooperation was the training of Ukrainian military personnel. Latvian instructors had begun training Ukrainian units back in 2022, but in 2023, the scale of these programs expanded significantly. Training was conducted both in Latvia and within the framework of international training missions organized by allies. It covered the training of unit commanders, sappers, operators of various weapon systems and military medics.

An important milestone was the 15 May 2023 announcement of the launch of a new training program for Ukrainian military personnel in Latvia, implemented jointly with Canada. The program was primarily aimed at training junior officers and unit commanders, and the course included tactical planning, unit management, reconnaissance and battlefield coordination. These trainings became part of a broader system of international training for Ukrainian military personnel being developed by Ukraine’s allies in Europe.

Throughout the year, Latvia gradually increased the number of Ukrainian military personnel trained by Latvian instructors. Whereas in 2022 such programs covered approximately 350 service members, in 2023 their number grew to more than 1,500. The training included both basic courses for military units and specialized instruction in tactical medicine, sapper skills, the use of modern communications equipment and unit management.

In parallel with the training programs, bilateral military cooperation between Ukraine and Latvia developed actively. Throughout 2023, there were a number of contacts between the defense ministries of the two countries, during which issues of further military assistance, coordination of international support and the development of joint initiatives in the field of defense technologies were discussed.

Drone coalition and technological support for Ukraine

Since 2024, Latvian military assistance to Ukraine has increasingly focused on the technological dimension of modern warfare, primarily unmanned systems. This stage of cooperation was a logical continuation of earlier forms of support and, at the same time, reflected changes in the nature of combat operations, in which unmanned aerial vehicles, reconnaissance systems, and electronic warfare equipment play a key role. It was during this period that Latvia became one of the main initiators of international programs to supply drones to Ukraine.

An important step was the announcement on 18 January 2024, at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, of the creation of an international drone coalition. It was led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, and the main goal of the initiative was to coordinate the supply of unmanned systems to the Ukrainian defense forces. The coalition involved partner states in financing the procurement of drones, expanding their production and ensuring regular deliveries to Ukraine. During 2024, more than ten states joined this initiative, effectively creating a separate international mechanism to support Ukraine in the field of unmanned technologies.

As part of this program, the Latvian government began actively financing the procurement of drones both for transfer to Ukraine and for the development of its own defense industry. In April 2024, a new military aid package worth more than €22 million was announced, which included ammunition, weapons, vehicles and various types of military materiel. Separately, Latvia allocated about €10 million for the procurement of drones within the drone coalition, as well as for financing the production of such systems by Latvian companies.

In the summer of 2024, one of the largest drone-supply programs was implemented. In July 2024, Latvia announced the transfer of 2,500 combat drones manufactured by several Latvian defense companies to Ukraine. The first batch of 300 drones was delivered shortly after the decision was announced. The deliveries consisted mainly of FPV drones.

Deliveries continued in the second half of 2024. On 22 July 2024, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds announced the transfer of a new aid package to Ukraine, which included more than 500 drones. In August 2024, the procurement of more than 2,700 combat drones was announced, with a significant share intended for transfer to Ukraine.

In 2025, this program was further expanded. The Latvian government allocated €20 million to continue the drone coalition’s work and procure new unmanned systems. According to the plans of the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the local companies were to manufacture about 12,000 combat drones for Ukraine within the framework of this program. On 27 February 2025, it was announced that another batch of 500 drones would be transferred to Ukraine.

During the spring and summer of 2025, deliveries were made regularly. In April, May and July 2025, Latvia transferred several batches totaling approximately 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine, as well as additional smaller consignments. In total, the number of drones transferred in 2025 was expected to reach approximately 12,000 units, making it one of the largest contributions by a single country to the provision of unmanned systems to Ukrainian units.

Parallel to the supply of equipment, technological cooperation also developed. In 2024, Latvia began training Ukrainian drone operators at its own training grounds. In addition, in 2025, it became known that Ukrainian units were using Latvian Rey uncrewed catamarans developed by NEWT21. These platforms are designed to perform logistical tasks, including the transport of ammunition and equipment, as well as the evacuation of the wounded under difficult conditions.

Armored vehicles, financial mechanisms, and defense-industrial cooperation

In parallel with the transfer of weapons and the development of technological programs, Latvia gradually expanded its support for Ukraine in the field of armored vehicles, the financing of defense procurement, and cooperation between defense enterprises. These areas became an important addition to military aid, enabling not only the transfer of equipment from armed forces stockpiles but also the creation of mechanisms for the long-term sustainment of the Ukrainian army.

One of the most notable decisions was the announcement on 11 January 2024 of a new package of military aid to Ukraine, which, in addition to ammunition, drones and equipment, included Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers. These vehicles are manufactured as part of a joint program between several European countries and are used to transport personnel and perform patrol and logistical tasks. The transfer of these armored personnel carriers was an important step in expanding the range of Latvian military aid.

At the same time, financial mechanisms to support Ukraine were developed. The Latvian government repeatedly allocated additional funds for the purchase of weapons and equipment for the Ukrainian defense forces. In April 2024, a new military aid package worth more than €22 million was announced, which included ammunition, explosives, vehicles and various types of materiel. Separately, Latvia allocated funding for the procurement of 155 mm artillery ammunition as part of an international initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery shells.

Overall, during the first two years of the full-scale war, Latvia’s support for Ukraine grew rapidly. According to Latvian government estimates, as of 2024, total aid to Ukraine exceeded €800 million, with a significant portion dedicated to military support. Relative to its gross domestic product, Latvia became one of the leading countries among Ukraine’s allies in terms of aid scale.

Cooperation in the defense industry became a separate area of focus. The Latvian government began to involve its own defense enterprises more actively in the production of goods for the Ukrainian army. Part of the financial resources was directed towards the procurement of equipment and technology from Latvian companies for subsequent transfer to Ukraine. This approach made it possible both to support Ukraine’s defense and to develop Latvia’s national defense industry.

As part of this policy, Latvian companies began manufacturing various types of drones for Ukraine, as well as other technological solutions used on the modern battlefield. Some of these systems were developed with the combat experience of the Ukrainian military in mind and adapted to front-line conditions.

Between 2022 and 2026, Latvia developed a consistent and multidimensional model of military support for Ukraine, combining the transfer of weapons and equipment, training of military personnel, participation in international initiatives, and development of technological cooperation. Initial decisions to transfer portable air-defense systems, small arms and ammunition gradually evolved into a more comprehensive assistance system that included the supply of helicopters, artillery systems, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and various types of materiel. As a result, despite its limited resources, Latvia has become one of Ukraine’s most active partners, and its support has become an important element of the international coalition assisting Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.

List of weapons and military equipment transferred by Latvia