In January alone, a Norwegian veterans’ organization sent 15 drones to the war in Ukraine. Norwegian and Swedish companies have donated money for the drone purchases. One of the businesses that has donated money is located in Bærum. – The aim of the drones you sponsor is to kill Russian soldiers. What do you think about that? – It is sad, but Ukraine needs this type of equipment, says Andreas Kallhovd. He is head of administration at electrical contractor AS Watt, and meets news in the company’s premises. The manager Andreas Kallhovd of electrical contractor Watt AS shows a plaque he received from Veteran Aid Ukraine, as a thank you for the support. Photo: Mohammed Alayoubi / news He shows off a plaque he received from Veteran Aid Ukraine as a thank you for the support. On it hangs a piece of a destroyed Russian tank from the front in eastern Ukraine. It is this organization that AS Watt has donated money to. – How much money did you give to buy drones? – There is perhaps no point in talking about the size of the amount, but we may have given a little more than a private person would give, Kallhovd tells news. Worth several million Daniel Viksund is the head of Veteran Aid Ukraine. – We have people in the private business world in Norway who contribute money to our work, he says. The organization consists, among other things, of veterans from the Norwegian Armed Forces. Ever since the war started in February last year, Norwegian ex-military personnel have gone to Ukraine and delivered drones and other material sponsored by business in Norway. According to the veterans, these drones have killed many Russian soldiers. Viksund says that he was recently in Ukraine and delivered equipment to the Ukrainian army to the value of several million Norwegian kroner. – We were four cars that drove down. They were loaded with military winter clothing, field boots, protective equipment, helmets, petrol and diesel generators, says Viksund to news. In another car disposed of by the organization there was a load of a total of fifteen drones. Most of the cargo in the five cars was donated by individuals and businesses in Norway, – Three of the drones were very advanced and expensive. The price tag is NOK 250,000 per piece. The equipment we have obtained, in Norway and Scandinavia, is of very high quality and makes a big difference in the war, says Viksund. He will not go into detail about which departments of the Ukrainian army have received the largest drones. This Matrice 210 RTK drone is very advanced. According to the Norwegian veterans, the drone can fly far even at night. The price tag with optics NOK 250,000. Photo: Veteran Aid Ukraine. When asked by news if they can document the business sector’s drone sponsorship, we are shown papers documenting money transfers from various private companies in Norway to the organisation. Among these companies we find AS Watts. – It is important that business also contributes to this when times are what they are, says head of administration Andreas Kallhovd to news. He also confirms that the money his company gave went to the purchase of drones. news has also interviewed a businessman from Sweden who has given the Norwegian veterans several hundred thousand kroner to buy the advanced drones. The Swedish businessman, who works in finance in Stockholm, wishes to remain anonymous. – First of all, I see it as a matter of course to support Ukraine. I am doing this to help the country to be able to defend itself against Russia, he tells news. Drone war The use of drones has become decisive in the ongoing war in Ukraine, chief researcher Tor Bukkvoll at the Defense Research Institute at Kjeller tells news. According to the American online newspapers New York Times and CNBC, Ukrainian soldiers use about 60,000 artillery shells a month. It corresponds to the American production during a whole year in peacetime. – The drones are used, among other things, to find targets for the artillery. This way you hit more precisely and save on ammunition, says Bukkvoll. Several trips Already at the start of the war last year, Veteran Aid Ukraine was on several missions in the war-torn country, and among other things delivered drones that were bought in Norway. The need for the new technology is great since drones have a short lifespan, says a veteran who has been involved from the start. Just seven days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the veteran drove six truckloads of humanitarian equipment with his colleagues. The veteran wishes to remain anonymous, but news knows his identity. Ukrainian special forces in the city of Odesa, in the south of Ukraine, have already received a drone according to Veteran Aid Ukraine Photo: Veteran Aid Ukraine. – The small drones that Ukrainians mostly operate have a lifespan of a couple of weeks. But the three drones that we have procured have excellent optics and a long range. The advantage of the large drones is that they are more difficult to override or take out, because they can also operate at night with night optics. This is a huge capacity that the departments get. The 53rd brigade’s divisions are tasked with taking land from the enemy. They have been fully mobilized since the invasion, and took part in the battle for Sievjerodonetsk, and now they are active in Bakhmut Photo: Veteran Aid Ukraine The 53rd mechanized brigade was created in 2014, after the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula. Its task is to take land from the enemy. It has received several drones from Veteran Aid Ukraine. The veteran also says that the special forces in the city of Odesa, in southern Ukraine, have received a drone. Veteran Daniel Viksund and his colleague received two medals from the 53rd mechanized brigade as a thank you for the efforts they made for the Ukrainian army. Photo: Veteran Eid Ukraine Does not fear consequences Kallhovd believes business in Norway should provide more help to Ukraine, without thinking about consequences. – I think it is more important to get the breadth and size of the aid than to be afraid of consequences. The consequence of not supporting Ukraine will most likely be worse for all of us in our society, Kallhovd believes. – Are you going to give more money? – I will do that, he says to news Donation for military use must be assessed The Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes to news that there are no sanctions or restrictive measures against Ukraine that limit the export of goods for civilian use in the country. If it is appropriate to donate goods for military use or military recipients in Ukraine, this must be assessed separately by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the responsible authority for export control in Norway, writes communications manager Tuva Bogsnes in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to news. Liberals want coordinated help Alfred Bjørlo (V), Storting representative and member of the industry committee, is very positive that private business supports Ukraine, but he wants to coordinate aid to the war-ravaged country. – I think that this should be coordinated at national level, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government so that we have a common understanding of how we can best create a system to help and meet the real need that Ukraine needs right now. he tells news.
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Norwegian business sponsors advanced drones for bombing Russian soldiers – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
