Norway has transferred or planned to transfer 14 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine — over double the six publicly declared — according to its annual arms export report.

According to Militarnyi, the official report on Norway’s conventional arms exports suggests that the country has planned to send 14 F-16s to Ukraine, despite only announcing six publicly. The status of the eight unannounced aircraft is not specified.

Condition of additional Norwegian F-16s unclear

It is likely, based on the report’s context, that these jets are not flight-capable and are intended for technical staff training, spare parts, or use as decoys, Militarnyi notes, adding that the possibility that some of the additional jets could be restored and made operational is not ruled out.

Norway previously stated that it would only provide operational aircraft that were withdrawn from service in 2021.

In mid-May, the Norwegian government reported that all promised F-16s would be delivered to Ukraine by the end of the current year. However, delivery dates for the eight unannounced jets remain unclear.

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Dutch, Danish, and Belgian F-16s for Ukraine

• As of May, the last Dutch F-16 fighters designated for Ukraine reportedly left the Netherlands. Despite completing the physical transfer of its pledged 24 jets, the Dutch Defense Ministry emphasized that its support continues, including training personnel and providing spare parts, ammunition, and fuel.
• Denmark’s delivery is ongoing in three phases, as previously agreed. By February, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed that Ukraine had already received 12 out of 19 promised fighters.
• Additionally, Belgium is expected to send two F-16s to Ukraine in 2025, with one aircraft designated for dismantling and use as a source of spare parts.

Ukrainian refugees — a 46-year-old mother Lilia and her six-year-old daughter Anna  — were found dead with stab wounds after a deliberately set fire at their home in Haasrode, Belgium. The Leuven prosecutor’s office has opened a double murder investigation.

Emergency services responded to the blaze at approximately 9:30 a.m. on 6 June at a former rectory-turned shelter for refugees on Milsestraat. Firefighters brought the fire under control by 10:20 a.m. but discovered two bodies during their search of the first-floor apartment, according to VRT, Sudinfo, and La Libre.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while paramedics attempted to resuscitate the child before she died from her injuries. Both victims had sustained stab wounds across their bodies, the prosecutor’s office confirmed Friday evening.

Fire experts determined the blaze was intentionally set, leading prosecutors to launch a formal investigation into double homicide. An autopsy is scheduled for 10 June to determine the exact cause of death.

The family had lived in Belgium for three years after fleeing Ukraine due to the war. The woman’s husband remains fighting on the front lines in Ukraine, while their 16-year-old son was at school during the incident and is now receiving care from authorities.

The building where the family lived is owned by the local church but rented by the Oud-Heverlee municipality to house Ukrainian refugees.

Acting mayor Francis Van Biesbroeck expressed the community’s grief, stating that “the death of a young child affects an entire community, and certainly also the school.” He praised the rapid response of emergency services and support staff.

Father Mykola Paliukh of the Leuven parish described the incident as “a tragedy,” noting how the family had “fled Ukraine because of the war and hoping to build a better life” before being “struck by such a tragedy.”

The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and arson attack.

A 46-year-old Ukrainian woman and her 6-year-old daughter were found murdered on June 6 in the city of Leuven, Belgium, authorities reported.

The woman and her daughter were found after first responders were called to the scene of fire in the community of Haasrode. Both victims were found in the fire, and had previously suffered stab wounds, Belgian media outlet VRT reported.

Authorities believe that the fire was deliberative and suspect foul play.

The Ukrainian family, which was not named, had been living in Belgium for three years. The murdered woman's 16-year-old son was at school of the time of the murder.

VRT reported that the father of the murdered girl is Ukrainian soldier currently serving on the front line.

No additional details were released as the investigation into the double homicide is ongoing.

A number of Ukrainian citizens have been killed or injured in attacks in multiple European cities, including in hate-motivated attacks.

In February 2024, a 15-year-old Ukrainian boy received severe head injuries and was taken to the hospital after his attacker allegedly made xenophobic remarks before the attack.

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The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

France and Belgium are not ready to accept the European Commission's latest proposal to phase out Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), calling for additional assurances, Politico reported on June 3.

The two nations, the largest EU importers of Russian LNG, argue they need stronger legal and economic guarantees before committing to the plan. Russia's energy exports remain a major source of revenue for the Kremlin's military campaign against Ukraine.

The Commission's proposal, unveiled on May 6, outlines a roadmap to end the bloc's dependence on Russian fossil fuels — gas, oil, and nuclear — by 2027.

Although the EU has slashed its reliance on Russian gas from 45% in 2021 to 19% in early 2025, several key member states remain cautious about cutting LNG ties entirely.

French Energy Minister Marc Ferracci told Politico that Paris supports diversification but prefers to prioritize securing replacement supplies.

France has been sourcing alternative LNG from Qatar and other suppliers, but it remains bound to long-term contracts with Russian firms.

"The stock of existing contracts… needs to be legally protected," Ferracci said.

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France's TotalEnergies, which owns a 20% stake in the Yamal LNG project in Siberia, has a supply contract with Russia's Novatek valid through 2032.

Belgium, Europe's second-largest Russian LNG customer, is seeking an "in-depth impact assessment" before backing the Commission's plan.

Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet said Brussels must evaluate how ending imports would affect its LNG terminals and storage infrastructure, which are expected to handle Russian shipments until 2035.

The cautious stance by France and Belgium diverges from that of Spain and the Netherlands, who have both expressed readiness to endorse the Commission's strategy.

Ukrainian officials and civil society groups have consistently urged the EU to cut these financial lifelines, pointing to the ongoing Russian attacks and occupation.

The Commission's proposed cutoff forms part of a broader push to safeguard European energy sovereignty and reinforce the EU's sanctions architecture. The internal divisions among member states risk delaying implementation.

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The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Türkiye and Belgium have expressed their intention to join the international drone coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia’s Defense Minister Andris Sprūds said on 28 May during a drone coalition summit.

An international alliance, established in February 2024 and led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, brings together over 18 member states to supply Ukraine with drones and related technologies. The Drone Coalition aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and support its fight against Russian aggression

“The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger – we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defence industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries,” Sprūds said.

He said that Türkiye and Belgium, joining the coalition, will enable the alliance “to provide Ukraine with the much-needed support in its fight against the aggressor.”

The drone coalition currently includes 18 member states. With Türkiye and Belgium joining, the coalition will expand to 20 countries. The admission of new members requires approval from existing coalition participants.

Coalition member states have contributed approximately 180 million euros ($204 mn) to a joint procurement fund managed by the United Kingdom, according to Latvia’s Defense Ministry. The fund enables centralized purchases of drone technology alongside individual national support measures from each member country.

Latvia announced it will allocate 20 million euros ($23 mn) for drone purchases in 2025. The country will provide an additional 10 million euros ($11 mn) for cooperation projects between Latvian and Ukrainian industries.

The drone coalition has provided substantial support to Ukraine since its establishment in February 2024. Member states delivered 1.8 billion euros ($2 bn) in assistance during 2024 alone. They plan to allocate 2.75 billion euros ($3 bn) for Ukraine support in 2025.

Over two years, the coalition has committed a total of 4.5 billion euros ($5 bn) to Ukraine, according to the Defense Ministry. 

The coalition was founded on 14 February 2024, and is led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. Current members include Australia, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and the UK.

In March, the drone coalition allocated 20 million euros ($23 mn) to purchase tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine. Norway recently agreed to Ukraine’s request to direct a larger portion of its support funds toward Ukrainian drone production.

Turkey and Belgium are set to join the international Drone Coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia's Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced on May 28 during the Drone Summit in Riga.

The coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, is expected to allocate 2.75 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in 2025 to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.

"The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger — we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defense industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries," Spruds said. "Our strength lies in unity."

With the addition of Belgium and Turkey, the Drone Coalition will grow to 20 member states. The coalition, officially launched in February 2024, includes countries such as the U.K., Germany, Canada, France, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine, among others. Each new member must be approved by existing coalition states, according to the memorandum of understanding.

Since its inception, the coalition has committed a total of 4.5 billion euros ($5 billion) in aid to Ukraine over two years, including 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) in 2024 and the planned 2.75 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for 2025.

The Drone Coalition plays crucial role in supporting Ukraine's use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have become key in targeting Russian military infrastructure, including airfields, oil depots, and logistics hubs deep inside Russian territory.

In March, the coalition allocated 20 million euros ($22.5 million) from a joint fund to procure tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine, following an urgent request from Kyiv.

The coalition complements Ukraine's domestic initiatives such as the "Drone Line," launched in February, which aims to accelerate battlefield drone deployment.

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