The Netherlands has pledged €500 million ($540 million) to support Ukraine’s "Drone Line" initiative—a key component of the country’s broader effort to strengthen its drone warfare capabilities amid ongoing Russian aggression.
Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans made the announcement during his visit to Kyiv on March 30, stating that the funds will help ensure a steady supply of various types of drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to Brekelmans, the contribution is part of the Netherlands’ €2 billion ($2.16 billion) expedited support package for Ukraine.
He emphasized that drones funded through this initiative are urgently needed to bolster Ukraine’s frontline operations. The package also includes air defense systems, ammunition, and maritime equipment.
The “Drone Line” project was launched on March 3, 2025, at the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is coordinated by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense in cooperation with the Ground Forces, State Border Guard Service, and Ministry of Digital Transformation.
The project aims to scale the combat experience of Ukraine’s most effective drone units by equipping them with advanced UAVs, electronic warfare tools, vehicles, and other necessary technologies.
Its primary objective is to create a zone of impact extending 10–15 kilometers beyond the line of contact to restrict enemy advances.
As part of this effort, the Ukrainian government allocated $117 million from the 2025 state budget.
The Netherlands’ contribution follows an earlier announcement in March 2025, in which the Dutch government committed an additional €700 million ($756 million) to support drone production development.
Brekelmans and Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman also visited Dnipro following a large-scale Russian missile strike and held discussions with Ukrainian military leadership on operational needs and the situation on the front line.
The officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and signed an agreement to deepen cooperation between the defense industries of both countries.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched the “Drone Line” initiative to enhance Ukraine’s battlefield strategy by integrating advanced drone units into frontline operations.
