- Dette innlegget er også tilgjengelig på norsk.
Ragnar Horn and Christian Ringnes have supported units along the front line for several years and recently visited Ukraine as volunteers on Fritt Ukraina’s transport mission number 128, during which large quantities of equipment were delivered to Ukrainian soldiers near the front line.
Both Horn and Ringnes have made significant contributions through Fritt Ukraina since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Ringnes is widely known as an investor and real estate developer through Eiendomsspar and Victoria Eiendom. Ragnar Horn is an investor and also represents the Hans Herman Horn Foundation, which supports projects related to democracy, national resilience, culture and civil preparedness.
For Ringnes, this was his first delivery mission to Ukraine with the organization, while Horn has previously participated as a volunteer with Fritt Ukraina.
During the week-long journey, the delegation took part in the first two major handovers connected to the fundraising campaign Odin’s Ravens. More than 70 unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) were delivered to Ukrainian forces, with several of the systems entering operational service just hours after the handover. In addition, several hundred drones were delivered to Azov’s air defence initiative Eastern Barrier.
The delegation met face-to-face with soldiers from ten different units that received support through this delivery.
The shipment also included six vehicles, 35 DJI drones, Starlink terminals and technical equipment sourced from Norway. The group travelled all the way to areas near the front line to meet soldiers and see how the equipment is being used.
– They are fighting our battle
Ragnar Horn describes powerful encounters with young Ukrainians who have lived through years of war.
“This has been a journey filled with extremely strong impressions, especially when you meet young people who are like our own children, who are educated, who had jobs and who have now been at war for the past four years. It makes a profound impression. It could have been us, and they are fighting our battle.”
Horn believes support for Ukraine must continue.
“So we simply have to keep fighting and keep giving,” he says.
For Christian Ringnes, the meetings with the soldiers made a lasting impression.
“What affects you most are the meetings with the people who are actually out there fighting. And I believe they are fighting our battle. If we fail to stop the Russians and keep them here, they will eventually continue to expand further.”
Saw the importance of the support up close
Ringnes particularly highlights the importance of witnessing how the equipment is received at the front.
“To see the people fighting, and to see how happy — almost desperately happy — they are to receive the equipment. We are talking about two huge truckloads of drones. There are Starlinks and all the things they need.”
Ringnes describes the trip as both powerful and meaningful.
“Extremely important and very, very rewarding for those of us who have contributed, to see that it actually has such a major impact.”
Met soldiers at the front line
During the trip, the Fritt Ukraina team spent time speaking with soldiers and NGO partners who receive regular support from Norway.
The visits took the delegation to the Kharkiv region and to the border area of Donetsk to inspect newly established defensive positions. Together with Fritt Ukraina manager Natalia Golis, they also visited two major underground command facilities and spoke directly with military commanders about the situation along the front line and the importance of saving infantry lives while maintaining the defensive line in Donetsk.
A key focus of the discussions was how technology can help replace soldiers with robots for logistics, evacuation and combat operations in the most dangerous areas of the battlefield, thereby saving lives.
Contributions to Fritt Ukraina directly support these efforts, and much of the equipment is put into operational use on the very same day it is delivered.
“Fritt Ukraina is extremely fortunate to have such dedicated supporters as Ringnes, Horn and the many other major donors who demonstrate through action rather than words that both the business community and ordinary Norwegians recognize the importance of this shared endurance for Europe’s security,” says Natalia Golis.
“Air defence systems and unmanned ground vehicles that save lives are among the most important things we can support on the ground right now. I would like to thank Ringnes and Horn for travelling into the field with me to meet those who are fighting. It means more than we think,” she says.
Innovation driven by operational needs
During the visit, the delegation gained insight into how Ukrainian manufacturers develop and improve technology in close cooperation with the military units using it at the front. For these producers, stable orders and contracts are essential to continuously improve solutions based on battlefield experience.
Through its procurement efforts, Fritt Ukraina contributes not only equipment, but also financing for continued innovation and production capacity in an ecosystem where development, procurement and logistics must move at high speed.
“We specialize in quickly and efficiently identifying the equipment and technology needed at the front together with our partners on the ground, and then scaling up deliveries. This is exactly the process our donors were able to experience firsthand during the latest trip,” says Secretary General Natalia Golis.
Norway’s largest civilian air defence initiative
Fritt Ukraina is also leading what is described as the largest civilian air defence initiative in Norwegian history.
“We are currently carrying out the largest civilian air defence collaboration in Norway’s history,” says Golis.
Through its partnership with Azov Brigade’s air defence initiative Eastern Barrier, the organization has so far raised approximately NOK 80 million from Norwegian donors. The goal is to reach NOK 100 million.
According to Golis, the effort is not only about delivering equipment, but also about strengthening Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian influence operations and warfare.
“Russia has invested enormous resources in information campaigns. Therefore, cooperation between businesses, civil society organizations and volunteers is also an important part of our information-based counteroffensive,” she says.
One of Europe’s largest civilian supporters
Since its founding, Fritt Ukraina has delivered a large number of vehicles, drones, communication systems and other critical equipment to Ukraine’s defence forces. Today, the organization is regarded as one of the largest civilian actors in Europe providing direct support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Transport mission number 128 forms part of the extensive delivery operation the organization has built up since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.