The European Commission paid Ukraine €1.24 billion on 7 October for drones, drone interceptors, drone ammunition and missiles made by Ukrainian companies. The money comes from the defence part of the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan the EU adopted in February.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the payment would “help strengthen Ukraine’s defence industry”. The Commission did not say how the sum splits between products or which manufacturers receive it.
Interceptors are small, fast drones that fly into incoming attack drones. Ukraine uses them against Russia’s Shahed-type drones; each costs far less than an air-defence missile.
Five payments since June
This is the fifth defence payment from the loan. The first, €3.9 billion on 30 June, began a tranche of about €6 billion for drones. €3.47 billion followed on 30 July for more drones, long-range jet-powered drones, missiles and Gripen fighter jets. Then came €3.3 billion on 18 September for drones and missiles.
Each payment follows a request from Ukraine. The Commission checks the contracts behind it to make sure the money buys what the EU and its member states agreed.
What is left for 2026
The EU plans €28.3 billion for Ukraine’s defence industry this year. The Commission says €15.4 billion of it is still available. By its own figures, then, about €12.9 billion has been paid, all of it since 30 June.
To pay out the rest in 2026, the Commission would have to move more money in the last twelve weeks of the year than it has since June. It says further payments will follow “in the coming weeks”.
Since 2022 the EU and its member states have given Ukraine €228.7 billion in all, the Commission says, including €3.8 billion from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.
