Estonia's defense ministry tight-lipped about Ukraine aid support recipients – ERR

Estonia’s defense ministry tight-lipped about Ukraine aid support recipients  ERR

For security reasons, the defense minister will not disclose which Estonian companies have received financial support to aid Ukraine. A total of €200 million has been provided to companies over the past two years. "For security reasons, the names of the companies selected under the Ukraine aid package are not public information," Ministry of Defense spokesperson Ines Edur told ERR. She explained that under the measure for procuring products from Estonia's defense industry, the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (RKIK) announces a tender open to all companies registered in Estonia that meet its requirements. An expert committee at RKIK then checks whether applicants meet the requirements. The committee includes representatives from the Estonian Defense Forces, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

"A catalog of products and services from companies that meet the requirements is sent to Ukraine, which makes its selection based on its critical needs. RKIK then signs contracts with the companies selected by Ukraine and the aid is delivered to Ukraine," Edur said. She added that in 2025 and 2026, a total of €200 million worth of products from Estonia's defense industry have been procured for Ukraine under the measure. According to Edur, the government has set a target of supporting Ukraine