Anna Hartz
Sweden is now sending more equipment to help Ukraine deal with these challenges.
Ukraine is fighting a war on land, but its rivers and coastal waters also need to be kept safe. Mines, damaged vessels and difficult transport routes can create serious risks for emergency workers.
Now, Sweden will transfer ten Coast Guard boats to Ukraine to strengthen its ability to carry out rescue operations, clear mines, tow vessels and transport equipment and people, reports United24Media.
The package
The Swedish government announced the donation on August 27. The package includes both workboats and high-speed boats. They will be handed over to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, which will use them for emergency operations.
Before the boats are transferred, Sweden will remove government-specific equipment and markings from the vessels. The boats will otherwise be delivered in their current condition. Swedish authorities have not said which Coast Guard models are included.
The vessels are expected to be used for rescue missions on rivers and other waterways. They will also support mine clearance, including operations to remove mines from riverbeds.
Serves a need
The boats will give Ukraine more capacity to tow damaged or disabled vessels. They can also be used to transport people and equipment in areas where normal road transport may be difficult or unsafe.
“Sweden supports Ukraine on several fronts and is now further strengthening Ukraine’s capabilities at sea,” Swedish Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin said. He added that towing, mine clearance and transport are all important capabilities that can now be expanded.
Sweden’s Civil Defence Agency will handle the transportation of the ten boats to Ukraine.
The donation is part of wider cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine. Stockholm has increased its support for Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
The two countries also agreed in June 2026 on a major deal involving Swedish Gripen fighter jets. Ukraine is set to procure 16 Gripen E aircraft, while Sweden is expected to provide another 16 Gripen C/D jets as military aid in early 2027.
The latest boat donation is smaller than the fighter jet deal, but it addresses a different need. Emergency services operating on Ukraine’s waterways face risks from mines and damaged infrastructure.
The Swedish government said the boats will strengthen Ukraine’s ability to respond to those dangers and carry out essential work on the water.
