The decision to free an American convicted of murder in a prisoner swap with Venezuela threatened to undercut President Trump’s claims of keeping the worst of the worst out of the United States.
The decision to free an American convicted of murder in a prisoner swap with Venezuela threatened to undercut President Trump’s claims of keeping the worst of the worst out of the United States.
Michael Kozak, a senior State Department diplomat, wondered in an email exchange whether, having obtained the freedom of Dahud Hanid Ortiz, a U.S. Army veteran convicted of murdering three people in Madrid in 2016, the U.S. government might extradite him to Spain.
On 27 May 2024, a historic handshake in Madrid sealed a new chapter in Ukraine’s struggle for survival. That day, Ukraine and Spain signed a 10‑year bilateral security agreement, a pact that committed Spain to stand by Ukraine during its fight against Russia’s full‑scale invasion.
A year later, that signature has proved to be more than words. Spain has become one of Ukraine’s most consistent allies, delivering weapons, training thousands of soldiers, investing in rebuilding projects, and help
On 27 May 2024, a historic handshake in Madrid sealed a new chapter in Ukraine’s struggle for survival. That day, Ukraine and Spain signed a 10‑year bilateral security agreement, a pact that committed Spain to stand by Ukraine during its fight against Russia’s full‑scale invasion.
A year later, that signature has proved to be more than words. Spain has become one of Ukraine’s most consistent allies, delivering weapons, training thousands of soldiers, investing in rebuilding projects, and helping create legal mechanisms to hold Russia accountable.
In collaboration with the Dnistrianskyi Center, Euromaidan Press presents this English-language adaptation of Dariia Cherniavska’s analysis on Spain’s role in Ukraine’s defense, recovery, and pursuit of justice.
A tenth agreement that mattered
This agreement was not a one‑off act. It became the tenth in a series of security agreements Ukraine began after the G7 Joint Declaration of Support in 2023. By July 2025, Ukraine had signed 29 such agreements in total — 27 with G7‑aligned or European partners, one with the EU, and one with Croatia — all aimed at long‑term security cooperation.
Yet the Spanish pact stands out because of its broad scope.
Under this agreement, Spain committed to:
Deliver weapons and military equipment
Train Ukrainian military personnel
Cooperate with Ukraine’s defense industry
Provide humanitarian support and reconstruction aid
Join sanctions and legal actions against Russia
And in 2024 alone, Spain pledged €1 billion for military aid, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s artillery, air defenses, armored forces, and maritime security.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez. Photo: Ukrinform
Weapons that protect lives
The first visible results came from the skies. In the spring of 2024, Spain sent batches of MIM‑104 Patriot missiles, strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses. Then in November, a full HAWK air defense battery – six launchers – arrived in Ukraine, designed to shoot down Russian missiles and drones.
On land, Spain has been no less active. Nineteen Leopard 2A4 tanks, once left unused in Zaragoza, were overhauled at the Santa Bárbara Sistemas plant. Ten of them were delivered to Ukraine in July 2024, with the rest planned for September.
Since the beginning of the full‑scale war, Spain has repaired and modernized 29 Leopard tanks for Ukraine and provided M113 armored personnel carriers. Between May 2024 and May 2025, Spain also delivered 155‑mm artillery shells, counter‑drone systems, surveillance optics, and modern combat turrets, giving Ukraine more tools to defend itself.
A Patriot air defense missile launcher. South Korean defense ministry photo.
Building a defense industry together
Spain’s assistance has not stopped with shipments. It is also helping Ukraine develop the capacity to produce and modernize its own weapons.
The Leopard tanks overhauled in 2024 are one example. At the same time, Ukrainian armored vehicles – including the Kozak‑5 – were equipped with Guardian combat modules from Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering.
In May 2025, Ukroboronprom signed a memorandum with Escribano to jointly develop weapons and localize Spanish module production inside Ukraine. Another partnership followed: Ukrainian company Praktyka signed an agreement with Spain’s Tecnove to begin licensed production of Dzura and Kozak armored vehicles in Spain, opening access to the European market.
Guardian 30 weapon system. Photo: Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EM&E)
Financial backing through frozen Russian assets
Support has also come through the European Union, where Spain, together with other EU members, takes part in the collective effort to redirect profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
July 2024: the EU transferred the first tranche of €1.5 billion
By May 2025: four tranches in total, amounting to €6 billion
May 9, 2025: the EU announced another €1 billion, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense industry
Weapons and funding are critical, but training saves lives. Spain is part of the EU’s EUMAM mission, which has already trained more than 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers. About 7,000 of them have trained in Spain.
There, soldiers learn to operate Patriot and HAWK air defense systems, maintain artillery, and master combined‑arms tactics. Most of these programs are run at the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC).
Beyond air defense, Spain has also been training Ukrainian troops on the very equipment it has supplied since the start of the full‑scale war — from OTO Melara Mod 56 towed howitzers and Aspide air defense systems to M113 armored personnel carriers and Leopard 2A tanks.
In March 2025, Ukraine and Spain signed a new agreement to expand training, ensuring more soldiers will benefit from Spanish expertise.
Spanish Army instructors at the Toledo Training Coordination Center train Ukrainian soldiers to maintain NASAMS air defense systems. Photo: defensa.gob.es
Support beyond the battlefield
While the frontlines define much of this partnership, Spain has been active on other fronts too:
Sanctions and cyber defense: Spain supports EU sanction packages that have targeted Russia’s military industries, energy companies, and individuals involved in war crimes. It also joined the IT Coalition in September 2024, which raised €482 million to strengthen Ukraine’s secure communications and cyber defenses.
Humanitarian demining: In 2024, the demining coalition – with Spain among its members – allocated over €50 million for clearing mines. Ukraine received hundreds of specialized vehicles and equipment, and over 4,000 engineers completed NATO‑standard training. Spain added €3 million to these efforts, bringing its total to €4.5 million, and co‑funded a UNDP project using trained dogs for mine detection.
Restoring energy: Spain delivered 17 large generators, invested €4.5 million in the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, and financed a new solar power plant in Chornobyl in April 2025.
Humanitarian and reconstruction aid: Spain provided $3 million for the HEAL Ukraine healthcare project, welcomed over 150 wounded Ukrainians for medical care, and supported the creation of a rehabilitation center in Barcelona. Since 2022, Spain has delivered more than €100 million in humanitarian aid and €400 million for reconstruction.
Spain financed a new solar power plant in Chornobyl in April 2025. Photo: chnpp.gov.ua
Seeking justice
Spain has also joined two major international coalitions. The first led to the June 2025 signing of an agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. Once it begins work in 2026, the tribunal will be able to prosecute 20–30 senior Russian and Belarusian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, even in absentia.
The second coalition focuses on the return of deported Ukrainian children; in 2024, nearly 600 children were brought home through these joint efforts.
One year in review
From Patriot missiles to solar power, from tanks to hospitals, Spain’s support has been comprehensive and steady.
One year after that handshake in Madrid, Spain has gone far beyond promises. Its help now shows in the skies above Ukraine, on the ground in training centers, in rebuilt power plants, and in the return of Ukrainian children.
It is a partnership built on solidarity – a partnership that continues to shape Ukraine’s resilience and its hope for victory and peace.
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The Russians are continuing to vacation while war rages on. As Russian missiles rain down on Ukrainian cities, Russian citizens are sunbathing undisturbed on the beaches of France, Italy, and Spain, The Telegraph reports.
As of late July 2025, approximately 74% of Russian citizens support the war, while 24% say they want to launch a nuclear missile strike on Ukraine.
Visas for Russians despite the war
Despite Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine and ongoing sanctions, Europe co
The Russians are continuing to vacation while war rages on. As Russian missiles rain down on Ukrainian cities, Russian citizens are sunbathing undisturbed on the beaches of France, Italy, and Spain, The Telegraph reports.
As of late July 2025, approximately 74% of Russian citizens support the war, while 24% say they want to launch a nuclear missile strike on Ukraine.
Visas for Russians despite the war
Despite Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine and ongoing sanctions, Europe continues to welcome Russian tourists. Overnight stays by Russians in French and Italian hotels rose by 19% over the past year.
These countries, both NATO and EU members, are still opening their doors to citizens of the aggressor state.
“In the fourth year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, it is extremely surprising to see statistics showing an increase in the number of visas issued to Russian citizens,” emphasized Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov.
France and Italy keep their doors open
France, a member of the “Coalition of the Willing” and an active supporter of Ukraine, is in no hurry to restrict tourist flows from Russia. Along with Italy, it advocates keeping borders open, at least for “wealthy Russians.”
Russia does not intend to end its war against Ukraine. On the contrary, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has told US President Donald Trump that military actions will escalate during the summer offensive. In the first half of 2025, Russia killed or injured 6,754 civilians in Ukraine, the highest number for a six-month period since 2022, the UN reports. In June 2025 alone, the UN documented232 civilian deaths and 1,343 injuries, marking the highest monthly casualty toll in three years.
“There are many Russians who support the war, and particularly the Russians who have money. What we absolutely don’t want to do is allow these Russians to enjoy the privileges and resources of Europe, while at the same time they’re supporting Putin’s war efforts,” said financier and anti-Putin activist Bill Browder.
Hybrid warfare and EU security
Experts believe that access for Russians is not only morally questionable but also a security risk. Browder calls for a ban on entry for Russian citizens unless they can prove they oppose Putin’s regime.
He stressed that denying visas can pressure the Putin regime and reduce the security threat posed by Russia’s hybrid war against the West.
Despite a ban on direct flights, dozens of travel routes between Russia and Europe still operate via Türkiye, Georgia, and Serbia. Meanwhile, Ukraine pays in blood for every day of freedom, as Europe hosts those who support the aggressor.
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By edging out Spain in a penalty shootout in the European championship final, England’s women’s team cemented its position as the standard-bearer for English soccer.
By edging out Spain in a penalty shootout in the European championship final, England’s women’s team cemented its position as the standard-bearer for English soccer.
Spain was the only NATO ally not to commit to a large increase in military expenditures. It’s far from Russia, and its embrace of a social safety net is another key reason.
Spain was the only NATO ally not to commit to a large increase in military expenditures. It’s far from Russia, and its embrace of a social safety net is another key reason.
An artillery system vehicle on display in Madrid. Europe’s tug of war between spending more for domestic priorities or for defense has vexed the Spanish government.
The Trump administration said it was protecting Americans unjustly held abroad. One of the rescued men, Dahud Hanid Ortiz, killed three people, according to court documents.
The Trump administration said it was protecting Americans unjustly held abroad. One of the rescued men, Dahud Hanid Ortiz, killed three people, according to court documents.
A photo released on social media by the State Department shows some of the 10 freed Americans who had been detained in Venezuela as they returned to the United States this month. Dahud Hanid Ortiz is at center right, holding a small flag.
A former high-ranking Ukrainian police official has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the same Spanish residential complex where Russian defector pilot Maxim Kuzminov was assassinated earlier this year, El Español reports.
Ihor Hrushevskyi, 61, a former senior official in Ukraine’s Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Organized Crime, was discovered floating in a community pool at the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa on June 29. The death occurred just 503 day
A former high-ranking Ukrainian police official has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the same Spanish residential complex where Russian defector pilot Maxim Kuzminov was assassinated earlier this year, El Español reports.
Ihor Hrushevskyi, 61, a former senior official in Ukraine’s Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Organized Crime, was discovered floating in a community pool at the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa on June 29. The death occurred just 503 days after Kuzminov’s murder at the same location.
According to El Español, Hrushevskyi was found “face down and without pulse” in what “appeared to be a drowning” around 9:30 pm. A Ukrainian neighbor and young people passing through the common areas discovered the body and attempted CPR, but “could not save his life,” the publication states.
The circumstances surrounding Hrushevskyi’s death have raised suspicions among residents. While the Ukrainian showed no signs of violence, he was bleeding from one ear, leading some to suspect a stroke. Others question how someone could drown in a pool that “does not exceed 1.50 meters in depth.”
Hrushevskyi had recently purchased an apartment in block 1 of the complex and was renovating it. His background in law enforcement remained largely unknown to neighbors – of approximately 20 residents consulted by El Español, “only one knew his name” and that he worked in organized crime fighting.
Ukrainian legal records show Hrushevskyi served as head and authorized representative of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Organized Crime in the Cherkasy and Kirovograd oblasts in 1993. The department was officially dissolved in 2015 as part of police reforms aimed at “cutting corrupt practices” and aligning with European standards.
The location adds an unsettling dimension to the death. Kuzminov, the Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine with a sophisticated Mi-8 combat helicopter in exchange for 500,000 euros, was “shot dead on 13 February 2024” in the complex’s garage. The pilot had been living under a false identity when Russian Foreign Intelligence Service agents tracked him down.
Of the “more than 3,000 kilometers separating Alicante from Ukraine,” both deaths occurred within meters of each other – “one in the garage and another in the pool,” El Español notes. Some residents fear this proximity may not be coincidental, particularly given that Russian President Vladimir Putin “used to vacation in his luxury refuge in Altea Hills” before the war and has contacts who “know the area perfectly.”
The Wall Street Journal later reported that the killers received payment from Russian officials in Vienna.
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A global law enforcement campaign has dealt a blow to the pro-Russian cyber army known as NoName057(16). Europol confirmed that about 20 countries helped dismantle the network behind thousands of attacks on Ukraine’s supporters.
Russia’s massive cyberattacks against Ukraine escalated shortly before the full-scale invasion in 2022. Since November 2023, Germany has documented recurring attacks tied to NoName057(16). Investigators also linked the group to incidents in 2023 and 2024 that targeted Uk
A global law enforcement campaign has dealt a blow to the pro-Russian cyber army known as NoName057(16). Europol confirmed that about 20 countries helped dismantle the network behind thousands of attacks on Ukraine’s supporters.
Russia’s massive cyberattacks against Ukraine escalated shortly before the full-scale invasion in 2022. Since November 2023, Germany has documented recurring attacks tied to NoName057(16). Investigators also linked the group to incidents in 2023 and 2024 that targeted Ukrainian diplomatic efforts. While Ukraine remains a central target, the group increasingly strikes at Kyiv’s allies. These include several NATO and EU members actively supporting Ukraine’s defense against the Russian war of aggression.
Europol targets ideological cyber group tied to Russia’s war
Europol reported that between 14 and 17 July, authorities from 12 countries launched Operation Eastwood. Europol and Eurojust coordinated the joint crackdown. The effort reportedly dismantled major parts of the pro-Russian cyber army’s infrastructure, including hundreds of systems.
The network, NoName057(16), had attacked Ukraine and NATO member states. It used distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to flood websites and services with traffic. These cyber strikes targeted public services, including defense, government, energy, and financial infrastructure.
Germany issued six arrest warrants for suspects based in Russia. Two are accused of leading the group’s activities. Spain issued another arrest warrant. France and Spain also reported one arrest each. All suspects are internationally wanted.
Authorities carried out 24 house searches and questioned 13 individuals across Europe. In Spain alone, 12 searches took place. Investigators also notified over 1,000 individuals believed to support the cyber group. Fifteen of them were administrators.
Attacks tied to political and military events across Europe
Europol reports that the group’s cyberattacks were timed to coincide with high-profile political moments. In Germany, authorities experienced 14 separate attack waves since November 2023, affecting more than 250 institutions. Targets included arms factories, energy companies, and government agencies.
Other attacks struck during the European elections. Swedish government and banking websites were affected. In Switzerland, NoName057(16) launched attacks in June 2023, during a speech by Ukraine’s president to the Joint Parliament. Another wave occurred in June 2024 during the Peace Summit for Ukraine at Bürgenstock.
The most recent attack linked to the group targeted the NATO summit held in the Netherlands in June 2025. Europol notes that although the attacks caused disruption attempts, none led to substantial outages.
Recruitment tactics built on crypto rewards and gamified propaganda
Europol identifies NoName057(16) as an ideological cyber network that operated without formal leadership. The group recruited mostly Russian-speaking sympathizers, many with little technical knowledge. Its structure relied heavily on gamified propaganda and incentives.
Volunteers received cryptocurrency payments and recognition through online shout-outs, badges, and leaderboards. Europol notes this method especially appealed to younger users who felt emotionally involved in Russia’s political narratives.
The group used pro-Russian forums, messaging apps, and gaming channels to recruit and coordinate. Europol says it also developed its own botnet made up of several hundred servers. These were used to amplify DDoS attacks against selected targets.
To simplify participation, NoName057(16) distributed guides and tools like DDoSia. Europol also launched a prevention campaign warning suspected supporters of their criminal liability, delivered via the same communication platforms.
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Prosecutors said the local head of Deport Them Now, an anti-immigrant group, helped incite four days of violence that have rattled a town with a large North African community.
Prosecutors said the local head of Deport Them Now, an anti-immigrant group, helped incite four days of violence that have rattled a town with a large North African community.
Masked men carrying bottles, canes and other blunt objects march down the middle of a street early Tuesday, during anti-migrant unrest in Torre Pacheco, Spain.
If not for a Spanish company, Russia could have run out of new artillery barrels. Barcelona-based Forward Technical Trade SL supplied at least one radial forging machine to Russia, initially built by the Austrian firm Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Maschinenbau (GFM), the Insider reports.
Since early 2024, Ukraine has destroyed over 19,000 Russian artillery systems, contributing to a total loss of nearly 30,000 systems over the entire war. The attacks have reduced Russia’s artillery
If not for a Spanish company, Russia could have run out of new artillery barrels. Barcelona-based Forward Technical Trade SL supplied at least one radial forging machine to Russia, initially built by the Austrian firm Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Maschinenbau (GFM), the Insider reports.
Since early 2024, Ukraine has destroyed over 19,000 Russian artillery systems, contributing to a total loss of nearly 30,000 systems over the entire war. The attacks have reduced Russia’s artillery superiority from a 10:1 ratio to about 2:1. Meanwhile, Kyiv and Moscow are turning to drones for faster, more precise strikes, reshaping how the war is fought.
The equipment, valued at $1.3 million, weighs 110 tons and was manufactured in 1983. The transfer reportedly occurred via a Hong Kong-based intermediary, Scorpion’s Holding Group Limited.
GFM denies any direct business ties with either the Spanish supplier or the Hong Kong firm. However, the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) confirms that GFM machines are crucial for barrel manufacturing in Russia — and that the Russian defense industry remains entirely dependent on them.
According to US-based expert Pavel Luzin, Russia cannot produce these forging machines domestically. Facing severe shortages, Russian forces have already begun “cannibalizing” old Soviet stockpiles, endangering frontline performance.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reported that the West still had not sanctioned 70 Russian companies behind the production of missiles that struck Kyiv’s largest children’s cancer hospital.
The Okhmatdyt strike occurred the same day Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 8-9 July 2024, calling for a peaceful resolution to the war. While the two leaders spoke of peace, Russian missiles rained down across Ukraine, killing 47 people, including 33 in Kyiv.
Technology is Ukraine’s chance to win the war. This is why we’re launching theDavid vs. Goliath defense blog to support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and are inviting you to join us on the journey.
Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support. Together, we can give David the best fighting chance he has.
Join us in building this platform—become a Euromaidan Press Patron. As little as $5 monthly will boost strategic innovations that could succeed where traditional approaches have failed.
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
Become a patron or see other ways to support.
Spain has rejected a U.S.-backed proposal for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, becoming the first alliance country to oppose the plan, Reuters reported on June 19.The rejection adds pressure to the transatlantic debate ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25, which has beenreduced to a single session focused on defense spending and alliance capabilities. In a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the proposed tar
Spain has rejected a U.S.-backed proposal for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, becoming the first alliance country to oppose the plan, Reuters reported on June 19.
The rejection adds pressure to the transatlantic debate ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25, which has beenreduced to a single session focused on defense spending and alliance capabilities.
In a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the proposed target "unreasonable" and warned it would undermine broader European efforts to build an integrated defense ecosystem.
"Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive," Sanchez wrote, arguing it would "move Spain further away from optimal spending."
Spain estimates that its armed forces require spending equal to 2.1% of GDP to meet national military objectives, below the U.S.-endorsed threshold but above NATO's 2% benchmark.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused NATO members of underfunding their militaries, pushing for raising defense spending benchmark to 5% of GDP.
While no other NATO members have formally rejected the proposal, most have remained noncommittal. Poland, the Netherlands, and Sweden have expressed willingness to consider the 5% target.
In 2024, only 23 alliance members met the 2% target, according to NATO estimates. Poland was ahead of all members with 4.12% of GDP allocated to defense, followed by Estonia (3.43%) and the U.S. (3.38%).
Rutte said on June 17 that all NATO countries are on track to meet the 2% threshold in 2025.
Spain, governed by a Socialist-led coalition, maintains a sharply different defense posture than the U.S. administration.
While Madrid supports Ukraine, it has taken a more cautious stance on the Middle East, including distancing itself from U.S. policy on Israel.
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