How Germany is supporting Ukraine

Aid for refugees from Ukraine

The Federal Government is supporting people from Ukraine in many different ways. It is providing financial assistance to municipalities and the Länder to help accommodate and provide for refugees. This includes lump-sum relief payments and allocating Federal Government properties for use as accommodation. 

Ukrainian refugees in Germany receive social security payments as well as a whole range of other benefits, such as German language courses, education and training, and other integration services. Job Centres are helping them find work.

Additional services:

• The Federal Government’s Germany4Ukraine digital support portal, offers online support with issues such as residence permits, integration courses and applying for the citizens' basic income.
• The “Move” project is a collaboration between Deutsche Sportjugend and the Federal Government. It provides opportunities for children and young people from Ukraine to meet and get to know others through sport.
• "Nummer gegen Kummer” helpline for Ukrainians 

Click here for more information about how Germany is helping Ukrainian refugees.

Military aid for Ukraine

The Ukrainians are bravely defending their territory against ongoing Russian aggression. Germany is assisting their efforts with huge levels of support, including equipment and weapons from German military reserves and also aid supplied by German industry financed using the Federal Government's funds for national defence purposes. The support includes:

• Iris-T SLM and other air defence systems, Patriot missiles and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns
• Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard heavy battle tanks
• Artillery systems such as MARS II and Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers
• Armoured transport vehicles
• Assault weapons and ammunition
• Medical supplies and clothing
   

These are just a few examples. Please click here (only German) for an overview of all military assistance Germany is supplying to Ukraine.

Infrastructure and humanitarian aid

Russia’s ongoing attacks have had a severe impact on many areas of Ukrainian life. It is almost impossible to imagine the suffering of Ukrainian people. Ukraine’s infrastructure such as waterworks and power stations has been repeatedly targeted and damaged by the Russian armed forces, causing great hardship for the population. Germany is providing assistance which includes funding repair and maintenance of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure through the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) investment and development bank.

Germany is the second-largest provider of aid for Ukraine. The Federal Government is funding humanitarian aid projects, working with international organisations and non-governmental organisations.  Through this, the Federal Government is ensuring that medical supplies, food, clean water and other aid gets to people quickly. People living close to the frontline are suffering acute hardship and depend on aid supplies. Furthermore, many of Ukraine’s millions of internally displaced persons and returning refugees need support.

Disaster relief

The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Police Force are all supporting their Ukrainian counterparts. This includes material assets such as generators and specialised vehicles, along with medicine and emergency services equipment. Delivering aid to regions near the frontline is a key priority.

The Federal Foreign Office (AA) is providing funds to help clear mines and ordnance which are strewn over large areas of Ukraine. It is also providing equipment to Ukraine’s disaster relief services. The BKA and AA are also assisting with gathering evidence and documenting war crimes and damage due to the war.

Funding reconstruction

The reconstruction of Ukraine requires coordination at national and international levels. In addition to this, acute and long-term support must be synchronised, and additional reforms are also required in the country. In this area Germany is supporting domestic and international efforts for the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine. This includes advising the Ukrainian government on the reforms needed for EU membership.  

Germany’s support for the reconstruction of Ukraine includes: 

• The “Ukraine Reconstruction Platform” which aims to forge stronger links between NGOs in Germany to support reconstruction in Ukraine
• The international G7-Ukraine platform for reconstruction to coordinate reconstruction funding

Financial aid

Almost all the support Germany provides to Ukraine costs money. If Germany supplies tents, for example, these have to be paid for, and expertise provided by the Federal Government does not come for free. Germany is providing direct financial aid to bolster the Ukrainian state and ensure it continues to function. This includes grants worth billions of euros through an account for Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund. 

Financial aid covers many different areas including one-off payments to around 10,000 Holocaust survivors in Ukraine.

Educational aid

Germany is helping Ukrainians continue their education and training through programmes such as “BerufeNavi” which helps young people find their way through vocational education. The KAUSA offices in each federal state coordinate training and migration, while the BOFplus programme helps migrants access vocational education. The National Academic Contact Point Ukraine provides information on academia and higher education in Germany. Furthermore, Germany is helping Ukraine rebuild its own academic sector.

Healthcare and medical aid

Germany is also providing aid to support medical care for people in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in Germany.

It continues to target support for bilateral healthcare projects in Ukraine in areas such as remote medical services, prosthetics and rehabilitative care. 

Germany is also providing assistance with evacuating the sick and injured and also helping them return home.

Economic aid

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs is making it possible for German businesses to continue their engagement with Ukraine despite the war. Germany has also made it easier to export goods to Ukraine and invest in the country. Ukrainian businesses can take advantage of favourable loans. The “Partnering in Business with Germany” programme offers support for Ukrainian managers.