Ukraine received the second batch of F-16s from Denmark: the mayor of Mykolaiv thanked for the support

F-16, photo from open sources

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced the receipt of the second batch of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark.

According to him, this aid is an example of determination and leadership, which distinguish Denmark among other partners of Ukraine.

«The second batch of F-16 for Ukraine from Denmark is already in Ukraine. It is this leadership in the protection of life that sets Denmark apart. The first batch of planes provided by the Danes are already shooting down Russian missiles and saving our people and our infrastructure. Now our air shield is additionally reinforced. If all partners were just that determined, it would have been possible to make Russian terror impossible,» he wrote.

In turn, Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych also thanked the Kingdom of Denmark:

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«We, the people of Mykolaiv, know how much Denmark supports us,» he added.

Denmark's cooperation with Mykolaiv

Back in March 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking before the Danish parliament, called on the country to take «chiefship» over Mykolaiv after the end of a full-scale war.

And already at the end of August 2022, the mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych and the Minister of International Development of Denmark Flemming Møller Mortensen signed a memorandum of cooperation. It envisages joint work on the formation of reconstruction projects and the involvement of investors from different countries in the restoration of Mykolaiv.

In January 2023, a meeting of representatives of Denmark and Ukraine took place in Mykolaiv regarding the planning of further restoration of the city. And in July, the Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark announced a package of aid for the Mykolaiv region for special equipment, medical equipment and repair of shelters.

Last September, after a meeting with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the opening of the office of the Danish Embassy in Ukraine in Mykolaiv.

And at the beginning of November, Denmark announced a new large-scale aid package to Ukraine for 40.2 million euros. At that time, it was reported that the main focus of the aid package was on Mykolaiv and the region.

In January 2024, the Kingdom of Denmark allocated another 21 million dollars to the reconstruction of the Mykolaiv region. In May — 17.2 million dollars for the reconstruction of destroyed educational institutions in the region, and in June -33.5 million euros for the restoration of infrastructure and improving access to water and electricity supply.

In general, about 60% of the aid that Denmark sends to Ukraine goes to Mykolaiv and the Mykolaiv region, said the ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Denmark has provided 118 million dollars in aid to the Mykolaiv region. He also stated his vision of the post-war reconstruction of Mykolaiv with friendly conditions for pedestrians and bicycle infrastructure.

While in Mykolaiv, the ambassador explained that after the end of the full-scale war, Denmark would help Mykolaiv to restore and modernize its shipbuilding capacity.

In particular, the country will rebuild the Lyceum named after Mykola Arkas while preserving its authentic appearance. As of September 2023, Ukrainian architects presented Ole Egberg Mikkelsen with reconstruction options.

The ambassador also supported the idea of creating a Danish quarter or park in Mykolaiv, but today this issue remains at the idea stage.

Denmark also expressed interest in the privatization of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant.

Also recently, in Mykolaiv, they finished painting a mural in honor of friendship and partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark. It was opened on the anniversary of the founding of Mykolaiv.

In turn, Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv Serhii Koreniev said that Denmark plans to help the city for the next 10 years.

On September 17, in Mykolaiv, representatives of Denmark said that they were satisfied with the «positive developments» in the city and announced a new phase of the partnership, which provides for the economic and social recovery of the city.

Also, on September 17, 2024, it became known that Ukraine received the 4th and 5th packages of financial assistance from Denmark in the amount of 64 million euros, 44 of which will be received by the Mykolaiv region.

In October, it was reported that Denmark will provide more than ₴150 million for the restoration of buildings in the Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv.

We will remind that in October representatives of «Engineers Without Borders» from Denmark visited Mykolaiv, who studied the situation with the implementation of projects of the Danish reconstruction program.