2022 Danish European Union opt-out referendum

Referendum on abolition of the Danish opt-out of the defence section of the Treaty of Maastricht

1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)

Do you vote yes or no on Denmark being able to participate in the European defence and security co-operation by abolishing the EU defence opt-out?

Results

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,848,242	66.87%
No	915,717	33.13%
Valid votes	2,763,959	98.62%
Invalid or blank votes	38,558	1.38%
Total votes	2,802,517	100.00%
Registered voters/turnout	4,260,944	65.77%

Result in each polling area.

Result in each nomination district and constituency.

Results of the referendum
Yes: 50–55% 55–60% 60–65% 65–70% 70–75% 75–80% 80%+
No: 50–55% 55–60% 60–65%

A referendum on the abolition of the defence opt-out, one of the country's opt-outs from the European Union, was held in Denmark on 1 June 2022.^[1]^[2]^[a] The referendum was announced on 6 March 2022 following a broad multi-party defence agreement reached during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[3] The referendum resulted in the "Yes" side winning with approximately two-thirds of the vote.^[4]

Background

After the rejection of the Maastricht Treaty in the 1992 referendum, the Edinburgh Agreement was reached, which gave Denmark four opt-outs in the European Union (EU), one of which was on defence matters. The Maastricht Treaty was subsequently ratified in 1993. The defence opt-out meant that Denmark did not participate in the Common Security and Defence Policy or EU military operations.^[5] In addition, the opt-out meant that Denmark did not participate in the decision processes in the EU related to military operations.^[6]

This is the third referendum to be held in relation to the country's opt-outs. In 2000, the Danish electorate rejected the adoption of the euro as national currency, and in 2015 a proposal to modify the justice opt-out was also rejected. For a referendum to be rejected, a majority of participating voters must vote against, and the voters voting against must represent at least 30% of the electorate; however the parties behind the defence agreement have agreed that the result of the referendum should stand regardless of the turnout.^[7]

Campaign

The defence agreement was signed and presented by the leaders of the Social Democrats, Venstre, Socialist People's Party, Social Liberal Party, and the Conservative People's Party.^[3]^[8] The parties endorsed the agreement, which also included increased defence spending and the aim of ending the country's dependency on Russian gas. Liberal Alliance and the Christian Democrats have also endorsed the "Yes" option,^[9] while the Independent Greens voted "Yes" but did not recommend voters what they should vote.^[10] The Danish People's Party, New Right, Young Conservatives and the Red–Green Alliance have opposed the abolition of the opt-out, recommending the electorate vote "No".^[9]

On 30 March, the Danish Foreign Ministry released two bills (draft laws) for organising the referendum and joining the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).^[11] Following this, the wording of the referendum question, which did not mention the European Union nor the opt-out,^[b] was criticised by the Danish People's Party and the Red-Green Alliance.^[12] Jeppe Kofod, Denmark's Foreign Minister, defended the wording, emphasising that the vote was about joining the other 26 EU member states. Following the criticism, Kofod announced a changing to the wording on 7 April, which read: "Do you vote for or against Denmark's participation in the European defence and security co-operation by abolishing the EU defence opt-out?"^[13]

Concern was raised that eliminating the opt-out and participating in the CSDP could eventually lead to Denmark having to join a European army if one were to be created in the future. Foreign Minister Kofod committed that any such change would require treaty revisions, which would be put to the Danish people for approval in a new referendum.^[14]

Television debates

Four major television debates involving the leaders of parties represented in the Folketing were held.^[15]^[16]^[17]

Date	Organisers	Venue	P Present S Surrogate NI Not invited I Invited
			Yes										No
			A	V	F	B	C	I	Q	Å	K	M	Ø	O	D

11 May^[18]	DR1	War Museum, Copenhagen	P Frederiksen	P Ellemann	P Olsen Dyhr	P Carsten Nielsen	P Pape	P Vanopslagh	P Siddique	P Rosenkilde	P Arendt^[c]	P Løkke	P Villadsen	P Messerschmidt	P Vermund
18 May^[16]	TV 2 News	Dokk1, Aarhus	S Bødskov	P Ellemann	P Olsen Dyhr	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	P Villadsen	P Messerschmidt	NI
29 May^[19]	TV2	Christiansborg, Copenhagen	P Frederiksen	P Ellemann	P Olsen Dyhr	P Carsten Nielsen	P Pape	P Vanopslagh	P Siddique	P Rosenkilde	P Karlsmose	P Løkke	P Villadsen	P Messerschmidt	P Vermund
31 May	DR1	DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen	P Frederiksen	P Ellemann	P Olsen Dyhr	P Carsten Nielsen	P Pape	P Vanopslagh	P Siddique	P Rosenkilde	P Karlsmose	P Løkke	P Villadsen	P Messerschmidt	P Vermund

Opinion polls

Date(s)	Polling agency	Sample	Yes	No	Undecided	Lead
30 May 2022	Epinion		44%	28%	19%	16%
27–30 May 2022	Voxmeter	1,091	53%	28%	19%	25%
23–27 May 2022	Voxmeter	2,008	51%	27%	22%	24%
16–22 May 2022	Voxmeter		45.5%	30%	24.6%	15.5%
9 May 2022	Epinion		38%	27%	35%	11%
6 May 2022	Megafon	1,009	39%	26%	35%	13%
20–27 April 2022	Epinion	2,090	39%	26%	35%	13%
18–24 April 2022	Voxmeter		39.5%	32.1%	28.4%	7.4%
4–10 April 2022	Voxmeter/Ritzau		38.8%	32.4%	28.8%	6.4%
31 March – 7 April 2022	Epinion	2,102	36%	27%	37%	9%
28 March – 3 April 2022	Voxmeter/Ritzau	1,007	39.2%	35.8%	25%	3.4%
22–28 March 2022	Voxmeter	1,000	40.3%	35.4%	24.3%	4.9%
14–20 March 2022	Voxmeter	1,509	38.2%	30.9%	30.9%	7.3%
6–20 March 2022	Wilke	1,000	42%	30%	28%	12%
8–15 March 2022	Epinion	1,020	38%	23%	39%	15%
7–11 March 2022	Voxmeter	1,509	44.2%	28.7%	27.1%	15.5%
7–8 March 2022	Megafon	2,054	55%	23%	22%	32%
6 March: The government of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announces a referendum on the Danish defence opt-out to be held on 1 June.^[8]
3–4 March 2022^[d]	Megafon	1,092	49%	27%	23%	22%

Results

The result meant that 43.38% of the registered electorate had voted for the proposal, and 21.49% had voted against.


Choice	Votes	%
For	1,848,242	66.87
Against	915,717	33.13
Total	2,763,959	100.00

Valid votes	2,763,959	98.62
Invalid votes	5,819	0.21
Blank votes	32,739	1.17
Total votes	2,802,517	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	4,260,944	65.77
Source: Denmark Statistics^[20]

By constituency

District	For		Against		Valid	Blank	Invalid	Total
District	Votes	%	Votes	%	Valid	Blank	Invalid	Total
Capital Region of Denmark	581,703	69.5%	254,874	30.5%	836,577	10,007	1,775	848,359
Copenhagen	235,847	69.4%	104,221	30.6%	340,068	5,108	827	346,003
1. Østerbro	27,096	74.1%	9,467	25.9%	36,563	510	82	37,155
2. Sundbyvester	21,591	69.7%	9,395	30.3%	30,986	428	90	31,504
3. Indre By	19,612	74.5%	6,710	25.5%	26,322	365	81	26,768
4. Sundbyøster	17,135	67.9%	8,100	32.1%	25,235	357	62	25,654
5. Nørrebro	22,004	65.3%	11,672	34.7%	33,676	715	87	34,478
6. Bispebjerg	12,065	60.5%	7,885	39.5%	19,950	400	60	20,410
7. Brønshøj	22,649	67.2%	11,053	32.8%	33,702	498	82	34,282
8. Valby	16,844	67.8%	7,987	32.2%	24,831	352	74	25,257
9. Vesterbro	22,042	69.6%	9,614	30.4%	31,656	570	78	32,304
10. Falkoner	20,180	76.7%	6,126	23.3%	26,306	344	39	26,689
11. Slots	17,313	72.1%	6,684	27.9%	23,997	327	52	24,376
12. Tårnby	17,316	64.5%	9,528	35.5%	26,844	242	40	27,126
Greater Copenhagen	160,842	68.1%	75,490	31.9%	236,342	2,407	508	239,257
1. Gentofte	29,382	80.2%	7,268	19.8%	36,650	287	66	37,003
2. Lyngby	22,099	77.6%	6,378	22.4%	28,477	296	53	28,826
3. Gladsaxe	20,642	69.1%	9,244	30.9%	29,886	344	52	30,282
4. Rødovre	18,978	64.4%	10,506	35.6%	29,484	343	60	29,887
5. Hvidovre	14,015	62.9%	8,260	37.1%	22,275	242	24	22,541
6. Brøndby	16,091	60.0%	10,738	40.0%	26,829	233	81	27,143
7. Taastrup	18,831	61.8%	11,625	38.2%	30,456	292	74	30,822
8. Ballerup	20,814	64.5%	11,471	35.5%	32,285	370	98	32,753
North Zealand	172,177	71.8%	67,611	28.2%	239,788	2,176	396	242,360
1. Helsingør	21,396	69.3%	9,488	30.7%	30,884	290	64	31,238
2. Fredensborg	25,446	75.8%	8,121	24.2%	33,567	247	29	33,843
3. Hillerød	32,921	68.2%	15,334	31.8%	48,255	470	61	48,786
4. Frederikssund	24,668	63.4%	14,262	36.6%	38,930	404	91	39,425
5. Egedal	32,324	73.7%	11,547	26.3%	43,871	407	63	44,341
6. Rudersdal	35,422	80.0%	8,859	20.0%	44,281	358	88	44,727
Bornholm	12,827	62.9%	7,552	37.1%	20,379	316	44	20,739
1. Rønne	6,390	63.3%	3,699	36.7%	10,089	167	21	10,277
2. Aakirkeby	6,437	62.6%	3,853	37.4%	10,290	149	23	10,462
Region Zealand & Region of Southern Denmark	646,102	64.6%	354,611	35.4%	1,000,713	11,340	2,183	1,014,236
Zealand	265,947	64.0%	149,567	36.0%	415,514	4,428	837	420,779
1. Lolland	11,245	59.2%	7,758	40.8%	19,003	220	63	19,286
2. Guldborgsund	18,635	61.3%	11,747	38.7%	30,382	357	82	30,821
3. Vordingborg	14,973	62.8%	8,879	37.2%	23,852	270	38	24,160
4. Næstved	25,668	62.5%	15,394	37.5%	41,062	423	74	41,559
5. Faxe	18,740	61.7%	11,640	38.3%	30,380	287	89	30,756
6. Køge	29,952	66.6%	15,042	33.4%	44,994	537	72	45,603
7. Greve	23,601	67.7%	11,240	32.3%	34,841	283	55	35,179
8. Roskilde	32,809	72.0%	12,767	28.0%	45,576	521	79	46,176
9. Holbæk	22,771	64.2%	12,704	35.8%	35,475	380	76	35,931
10. Kalundborg	24,685	60.0%	16,460	40.0%	41,145	423	91	41,659
11. Ringsted	20,232	64.0%	11,385	36.0%	31,617	387	59	32,063
12. Slagelse	22,636	60.9%	14,551	39.1%	37,187	340	59	37,586
Funen	165,365	67.3%	80,211	32.7%	245,576	3,166	576	249,318
1. Odense Øst	20,137	66.6%	10,084	33.4%	30,221	473	96	30,790
2. Odense Vest	19,795	68.4%	9,162	31.6%	28,957	381	71	29,409
3. Odense Syd	25,484	72.6%	9,600	27.4%	35,084	483	83	35,650
4. Assens	13,840	66.0%	7,131	34.0%	20,971	237	57	21,265
5. Middelfart	23,544	66.0%	12,125	34.0%	35,669	396	93	36,158
6. Nyborg	18,800	65.8%	9,778	34.2%	28,578	365	48	28,991
7. Svendborg	23,954	65.4%	12,656	34.6%	36,610	473	78	37,161
8. Faaborg	19,811	67.2%	9,675	32.8%	29,486	358	50	29,894
South Jutland	214,790	63.2%	124,833	36.8%	339,623	3,746	770	344,139
1. Sønderborg	22,352	63.5%	12,853	36.5%	35,205	379	93	35,677
2. Aabenraa	16,458	61.3%	10,410	38.7%	26,868	277	56	27,201
3. Tønder	10,295	60.6%	6,700	39.4%	16,995	217	42	17,254
4. Esbjerg By	16,859	59.1%	11,686	40.9%	28,545	289	60	28,894
5. Esbjerg Omegn	16,651	63.8%	9,432	36.2%	26,083	258	44	26,385
6. Varde	14,852	63.1%	8,698	36.9%	23,550	268	64	23,882
7. Vejen	19,486	61.7%	12,109	38.3%	31,595	384	78	32,057
8. Vejle Nord	18,950	68.5%	8,722	31.5%	27,672	296	78	28,046
9. Vejle Syd	18,714	67.2%	9,147	32.8%	27,861	342	75	28,278
10. Fredericia	15,271	62.2%	9,268	37.8%	24,539	276	59	24,874
11. Kolding Nord	13,754	67.3%	6,697	32.7%	20,451	203	43	20,697
12. Kolding Syd	14,738	63.4%	8,502	36.6%	23,240	257	35	23,532
13. Haderslev	16,410	60.7%	10,609	39.3%	27,019	300	43	27,362
Central Denmark & North Denmark Regions	620,437	67.0%	306,232	33.0%	926,669	11,392	1,861	939,922
East Jutland	274,182	69.5%	120,265	30.5%	394,447	5,175	837	400,459
1. Århus Syd	30,136	74.6%	10,286	25.4%	40,422	598	101	41,121
2. Århus Vest	26,101	69.6%	11,390	30.4%	37,491	528	95	38,114
3. Århus Nord	29,341	71.8%	11,518	28.2%	40,859	719	120	41,698
4. Århus Øst	40,275	77.0%	12,063	23.0%	52,338	862	132	53,332
5. Djurs	26,056	65.1%	13,958	34.9%	40,014	374	71	40,459
6. Randers Nord	13,466	61.5%	8,435	38.5%	21,901	225	46	22,172
7. Randers Syd	15,418	64.2%	8,592	35.8%	24,010	243	42	24,295
8. Favrskov	17,104	69.4%	7,527	30.6%	24,631	257	43	24,931
9. Skanderborg	34,031	72.0%	13,214	28.0%	47,245	576	53	47,874
10. Horsens	27,296	64.7%	14,887	35.3%	42,183	479	93	42,755
11. Hedensted	14,958	64.1%	8,395	35.9%	23,353	314	41	23,708
West Jutland	168,770	66.3%	85,772	33.7%	254,542	3,092	465	258,099
1. Struer	13,526	65.6%	7,106	34.4%	20,632	226	44	20,902
2. Skive	14,251	62.8%	8,427	37.2%	22,678	277	35	22,990
3. Viborg Vest	16,218	66.8%	8,052	33.2%	24,270	332	58	24,660
4. Viborg Øst	14,892	67.1%	7,294	32.9%	22,186	268	45	22,499
5. Silkeborg Nord	15,996	67.2%	7,797	32.8%	23,793	296	43	24,132
6. Silkeborg Syd	18,202	71.5%	7,273	28.5%	25,475	325	48	25,848
7. Ikast	11,781	63.2%	6,866	36.8%	18,647	214	29	18,890
8. Herning Syd	12,471	65.7%	6,504	34.3%	18,975	215	38	19,228
9. Herning Nord	15,293	66.7%	7,638	33.3%	22,931	270	23	23,224
10. Holstebro	18,529	66.1%	9,482	33.9%	28,011	341	51	28,403
11. Ringkøbing	17,611	65.4%	9,333	34.6%	26,944	328	51	27,323
North Jutland	177,485	63.9%	100,195	36.1%	277,680	3,125	559	281,364
1. Frederikshavn	17,159	58.4%	12,245	41.6%	29,404	251	130	29,785
2. Hjørring	18,894	62.8%	11,187	37.2%	30,081	315	72	30,468
3. Brønderslev	22,239	62.3%	13,450	37.7%	35,689	421	53	36,163
4. Thisted	18,481	62.3%	11,168	37.7%	29,649	331	55	30,035
5. Himmerland	20,651	65.2%	11,014	34.8%	31,665	335	54	32,054
6. Mariagerfjord	12,339	61.9%	7,579	38.1%	19,918	197	42	20,157
7. Aalborg Øst	25,578	66.3%	12,987	33.7%	38,565	503	55	39,123
8. Aalborg Vest	21,855	69.0%	9,801	31.0%	31,656	401	41	32,098
9. Aalborg Nord	20,289	65.3%	10,764	34.7%	31,053	371	57	31,481
Denmark	1,848,242	66.9%	915,717	33.1%	2,763,959	32,739	5,819	2,802,517
Source: Denmark Statistics^[21]

Aftermath

Reactions

Exit polls released by national broadcasters DR and TV 2 immediately after polls closed at 20:00 CEST (18:00 UTC) showed a large majority of the electorate had voted "Yes".^[22]^[23] This was the first time that Denmark had ever abolished one of its EU opt-outs.^[24] This was the largest share of the vote ever received by the "Yes" side in an EU-referendum, with the result being described by some as a landslide.^[23] The turnout at 65.8% was noted as one of the lowest of any EU referendum, with only the 2014 Danish Unified Patent Court membership referendum having had a lower turnout.^[25] Election scholars expressed concern and attributed the low turnout to some parties being hesitant to campaign, as well as the opinion polls prior to the election showing the yes side having a large lead.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen commented that she was "very very happy" for the result, and said that Denmark had sent a very important signal to its allies and a clear signal to Vladimir Putin.^[24] She also praised the cooperation with the other parties that had advocated in favour of the referendum. Frederiksen emphasised that there were no plans to abolish Denmark's remaining opt-outs, promising that the referendum had been "about the defence opt-out and nothing else". Venstre leader Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said that the vote sent a clear result that other countries could count on Denmark. He then focused on the next Danish general election, saying that the country's right-wing should work together to give Denmark a new government.^[26]

Morten Messerschmidt commented that the result showed that the Danish People's Party was alive.^[26] He said that many people's votes were "influenced by the war in Ukraine". Political Spokesperson of Red–Green Alliance, Mai Villadsen, said that she had "very great respect" for the result of the election.^[27] She mentioned that many of the party's voters had voted "Yes", and promised that the party would remain engaged with defence policy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result and said that Denmark and the EU "would benefit from the decision".^[28] French President Emmanuel Macron said that it was a "fantastic news for our Europe" and that "we are stronger together".^[29]

Developments

With the end of the EU defence opt-out effective from 1 July 2022, the Danish government had the power to request Denmark's participation in the European Defence Agency and Permanent Structured Cooperation.^[30] On 23 March 2023, the Danish Parliament approved participation in the EDA and PESCO.^[31]^[32] PESCO members voted on Danish participation on 23 May 2023, confirming Denmark's participation in PESCO, Denmark becoming its 26th member.^[33]

Notes

^ The vote did not take place on the Faroe Islands or Greenland, which are not part of the European Union. See Faroe Islands and the European Union, Greenland and the European Union, and withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities for details.
^ Do you vote for or against Denmark's participation in the European defence and security co-operation?
Danish: Stemmer du ja eller nej til, at Danmark kan deltage i det europæiske samarbejde om sikkerhed og forsvar? (Forslag til lov om Danmarks deltagelse i det europæiske samarbejde om sikkerhed og forsvar)
^ Arendt resigned as party leader during the campaign on 17 May.
^ The wording of the question differs from the referendum: "Drop the defence opt-out and join a joint EU army?"

References

^ "Danskerne skal stemme om forsvarsforbeholdet 1. juni". TV2 (in Danish). 2022-03-06. Archived from the original on 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
^ "Endeligt udkast til forslag til Lov om Danmarks deltagelse i det europæiske samarbejde om sikkerhed og forsvar" (PDF). 30 March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Nationalt kompromis om dansk sikkerhedspolitik" [National compromise on Danish security policy] (PDF). Regeringen (in Danish). 6 March 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
^ "Resultater – Folkeafstemning onsdag 1. juni 2022 – Danmarks Statistik". dst.dk. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
^ "Danmark og EU". Forsvarsministeriet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
^ "Hvad betyder det, om det bliver et ja eller et nej til forsvarsforbeholdet? – TV 2". TV2 (in Danish). 2022-03-06. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
^ "Endeligt udkast til forslag til Lov om Danmarks deltagelse i det europæiske samarbejde om sikkerhed og forsvar" (PDF). 30 March 2022. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Forsvarsforbeholdet skal til folkeafstemning 1. juni, og Forsvaret skal styrkes" (in Danish). DR. 2022-03-06. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
^ ^a ^b "Her er de stærkeste argumenter for og imod forsvarsforbeholdet – TV 2". TV2 (in Danish). 2022-03-08. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
^ "Vi stemmer JA – Hvad stemmer du?". Independent Greens. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
^ "Høring om to lovforslag vedrørende folkeafstemning om Danmarks deltagelse i det europæiske samarbejde om sikkerhed og forsvar". via.ritzau.dk. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
^ "Formulering på stemmeseddel ved folkeafstemning minder om direkte snyderi, mener Enhedslisten – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-03-30. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
^ "Ordlyden på stemmesedlen om forsvarsforbeholdet ændres – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-04-07. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
^ "Kofod forsøger at berolige EU-skeptikere: Lover ny afstemning, hvis fælles EU-hær bliver realitet". DR. 2022-04-20. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
^ "Sådan dækker DR folkeafstemningen om forsvarsforbeholdet". DR (in Danish). 2022-05-05. Archived from the original on 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
^ ^a ^b "Folkeafstemning om forsvarsforbeholdet: TV 2 NEWS og Radio4 samler politikere og eksperter til stor debat i Aarhus". omtv2.tv2.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
^ "Ja eller nej til forsvarsforbeholdet? TV 2 skruer op for dækningen på alle platforme". omtv2.tv2.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
^ "MINUT FOR MINUT: Sådan gik det, da partilederne tørnede sammen om forsvarsforbeholdet". DR (in Danish). 2022-05-11. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
^ "Bølgerne gik højt i EU-debat – her er fem nedslag – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-05-29. Archived from the original on 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
^ "RESULTATER - HELE LANDET" [RESULTS - WHOLE COUNTRY] (in Danish). Archived from the original on 12 June 2022.
^ "RESULTATER" [RESULTS] (in Danish). Archived from the original on 9 June 2022.
^ "Exitpoll: Stort flertal stemmer 'ja' til at afskaffe forsvarsforbeholdet | Seneste nyt". DR (in Danish). June 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ ^a ^b "Exitpoll: Flertal stemmer ja – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ ^a ^b "Danskerne stemmer ja til at afskaffe forsvarsforbeholdet – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ "Lav valgdeltagelse bekymrer: 'Det er et nederlag for demokratiet'". DR (in Danish). 2022-06-02. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ ^a ^b "Ellemann glæder sig over ja – og ser frem mod næste valg – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ "Mai Villadsen: Mange af vores vælgere har stemt ja – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ "Resten af Europa omfavner Danmark efter historisk resultat – TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ Macron, Emmanuel (1 June 2022). "Aujourd'hui, le peuple danois a voté pour rejoindre la politique européenne de défense. C'est une excellente nouvelle pour notre Europe ! Nous sommes plus forts ensemble". Twitter (in French). Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ "Danes vote yes to abolish EU defence opt-out – here are the next steps". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). 2022-06-02. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
^ W, Christian (23 March 2023). "Denmark votes to join European Defence Agency". The Copenhagen Post. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
^ Szumski, Charles (23 March 2023). "Danish parliament votes to join European Defence Agency". Euractiv. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
^ "EU defence cooperation: Council welcomes Denmark into PESCO and launches the 5th wave of new PESCO projects". Council of the European Union. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.

General	Outline Timeline Prelude (February – April 2022) (April – August 2022) (August – November 2022) (November 2022 – June 2023) (June – August 2023) (September – November 2023) (December 2023 – March 2024) (April 2024 – present) Aerial warfare Defense lines Foreign fighters Information war Naval warfare Legality Map Order of battle Peace negotiations Ukraine's Peace Formula China peace proposal June 2024 global conference Proposed no-fly zone Red lines Reparations Territorial control Women
Prelude	Reactions Disinformation Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy theory Ukraine and weapons of mass destruction 2021 Russia–United States summit 2021 Black Sea incident Belarus–European Union border crisis "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" Crimea Platform Zapad 2021 December 2021 ultimatum 2022 Ukraine cyberattacks Zametil 2022 Union Resolve 2022 Stanytsia Luhanska kindergarten bombing British–Polish–Ukrainian trilateral pact Evacuation of the Donetsk PR and Luhansk PR Mobilization in Donetsk PR and Luhansk PR "Address concerning the events in Ukraine" "On conducting a special military operation"
Background	Dissolution of the Soviet Union 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine historical background Annexation of Crimea reactions War in Donbas 2022 timeline Minsk agreements humanitarian situation international recognition of the Donetsk PR and Luhansk PR Putinism Foundations of Geopolitics Novorossiya Ruscism Russian irredentism Russian imperialism
Foreign relations	Russia–Ukraine Belarus–Ukraine Belarus–Russia Russia–United States Ukraine–United States Russia–NATO Ukraine–NATO enlargement of NATO eastward expansion controversy in Russia open door policy

Military engagements

Southern
Ukraine

Eastern
Ukraine

Battle of Marinka
Battle of Volnovakha
Battle of Kharkiv
Battle of Izium
Battle of Rubizhne
Battle of Popasna
Battle of Donbas
- Battle of the Siverskyi Donets
- Battle of Sievierodonetsk
- Battle of Toshkivka
- First battle of Lyman
- Battle of Sviatohirsk
- Battle of Lysychansk
- Battle of Pisky
- Battle of Bakhmut
- Battle of Soledar
Battle of Vuhledar
Kharkiv counteroffensive
Luhansk Oblast campaign
Battle of Avdiivka

Northern
Ukraine

Airstrikes
by city

Chernihiv strikes
Dnipro strikes
Ivano-Frankivsk strikes
Kharkiv strikes
Kherson strikes
Khmelnytskyi strikes
Kryvyi Rih strikes
Kyiv strikes
Lviv strikes
Mykolaiv strikes
Odesa strikes
Rivne strikes
Vinnytsia strikes
Zaporizhzhia strikes
Zhytomyr strikes

Airstrikes on
military targets

Resistance

Russian-occupied Ukraine	Popular Resistance of Ukraine Berdiansk Partisan Army Yellow Ribbon Atesh
Belarus and Russia	Assassination of Vladlen Tatarsky Civic Council Irpin Declaration Killing of Darya Dugina National Republican Army Military commissariats arsons Ust-Ilimsk military commissariat shooting Black Bridge Rail war in Russia Stop the Wagons Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists Rail war in Belarus Busly liaciać BYPOL Community of Railway Workers Cyber Partisans

Russian
occupations

Flags used in Russian-occupied Ukraine

Ongoing	Annexation referendums Annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts Elections in Russian-occupied Ukraine Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol Donetsk Oblast Kharkiv Oblast Kherson Oblast Luhansk Oblast Mykolaiv Oblast Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Previous	Chernihiv Oblast Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava oblasts Kyiv Oblast Odesa Oblast Sumy Oblast Zhytomyr Oblast

Potentially
related

Other

War crimes

General	Accusations of genocide in Donbas Allegations of genocide of Ukrainians child abductions Attacks on hospitals Cluster munitions Incendiary weapons Landmines Russian filtration camps Russian mobile crematoriums Russian theft of Ukrainian grain Russian torture chambers Looting Sexual violence Mistreatment of prisoners of war
Attacks on civilians	February 2022 Kharkiv cluster bombing Kharkiv government building airstrike 3 March Chernihiv bombing Irpin refugee column shelling Mariupol hospital airstrike Stara Krasnianka care house attack Mykolaiv cluster bombing March 2022 Donetsk attack 2022 Borodianka airstrikes Chernihiv breadline attack Mariupol theatre airstrike Mariupol art school bombing Kyiv shopping centre bombing Sumykhimprom ammonia leak March 2022 Kharkiv cluster bombing Mykolaiv government building missile strike Bucha massacre Kramatorsk railway station attack April 2022 Kharkiv cluster bombing Bilohorivka school bombing Shooting of Andrii Bohomaz Maisky Market attack Kremenchuk shopping mall attack Serhiivka missile strike Chasiv Yar missile strike Olenivka prison massacre Kharkiv dormitories missile strike Chaplyne railway station attack Izium mass graves September 2022 Donetsk attack Zaporizhzhia civilian convoy attack Kupiansk civilian convoy shelling Zaporizhzhia residential building airstrike Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure 2023 Dnipro residential building airstrike Ukraine Yellow Kitchen Photo Sloviansk airstrike Uman missile strike Kramatorsk restaurant missile strike Lyman cluster bombing 2023 Pokrovsk missile strike Chernihiv missile strike Kostiantynivka missile strike Hroza missile attack Volnovakha massacre 29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine 2024 Pokrovsk missile strike 2024 Donetsk attack Lysychansk missile strike 6 March 2024 Odesa strike 22 March 2024 Russian strikes on Ukraine April 2024 Chernihiv missile strike
Crimes against soldiers	Torture of Russian soldiers in Mala Rohan Torture and castration of a Ukrainian POW in Pryvillia Rape of Donetsk People's Republic soldiers by Kadyrovites Murder of Yevgeny Nuzhin Makiivka surrender incident Execution of Oleksandr Matsievskyi 2022 Ukrainian prisoner of war beheading
Legal cases	ICC investigation Arrest warrants ICJ court case Task Force on Accountability Universal jurisdiction Crime of aggression Criminal proceedings Vadim Shishimarin Alexander Bobikin and Alexander Ivanov Anton Cherednik

Reactions

States and
official entities

General	Sanctions people and organizations restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad Oblast Military aid European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine People's Bayraktar Signmyrocket.com Humanitarian aid Sanctioned yachts Relations with Russia
Ukraine	Application to NATO Be Brave Like Ukraine Brave1 Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Decolonization and derussification law Delta Destroyed Russian military equipment exhibition For Courage and Bravery (Ukraine) Grain From Ukraine Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Hero City I Want to Live International Defence Industries Forum International Legion and other foreign units Belarusian Volunteer Corps Terror Battalion Black Maple Company Canadian-Ukrainian Brigade Freedom of Russia Legion German Volunteer Corps Karelian National Battalion Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment Norman Brigade Pahonia Regiment Polish Volunteer Corps Romanian Battlegroup Getica Russian Volunteer Corps Separate Special Purpose Battalion Sibir Battalion Turan Battalion International Sponsors of War Forced confiscation law of Russian property [ru; uk] Look for Your Own Martial law Mobilization Media Center Ukraine National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the War [uk] National Multi-Subject Test [uk] North Korea–Ukraine relations Points of Invincibility Recognition of Ichkeria Rescuer City [uk] Save Ukrainian Culture [uk] Syria–Ukraine relations Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra United24 United News
Russia	highways in the annexed territories A290 A291 "Tavrida" R260 R280 "Novorossiya" 2022 Moscow rally 2023 Moscow rally 2022 Moscow Victory Day Parade 2023 Moscow Victory Day Parade 2023 Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly Blockade of Ukraine [ru] Bohdan Khmelnytsky Battalion Censorship in Russia [ru] Chechnya Pro-Ukrainian Chechen fighters Conmemorative Medal "Participant of a Special Military Operation" [ru] Conversations about Important Things Krasovsky case Legalization of parallel imports [ru] Manifesto of the South Russian People's Council Martial law Masha Moskalyova case Metropolis of Crimea Mikhail Simonov case Mobilization Recruitment of irregular forces [ru] Operation Doppelgänger [fr; ru] Opinion polling [ru] Orthodox Christmas truce proposal Wagner Group–Ministry of Defense conflict Russian Orthodox clergymen appeal against war Salvation Committee for Peace and Order Special Coordinating Council Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy theory Unfriendly countries list War censorship laws We Are Together. Sports "What Russia Should Do with Ukraine"
United States	2022 Joe Biden speech in Warsaw 2022 State of the Union Address Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Disinformation Governance Board Executive Order 14071 Pentagon document leaks Task Force KleptoCapture Ukraine Defense Contact Group Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
Other countries	Belarus Canada Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel China Chinese peace plan Croatia Denmark Danish European Union defence opt-out referendum Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia–Russia relations [ru] France Mission Aigle Georgia [ru] Germany German Taurus leak Zeitenwende speech Hungary [hu] India Operation Ganga Iran Israel Operation Israel Guarantees Lithuania Moldova New Zealand Russia Sanctions Act Poland border crisis with Ukraine Syria [ru] Taiwan [zh-yue] United Kingdom Economic Crime Act Homes for Ukraine Operation Interflex
United Nations	Emergency special session Resolution ES-11/1 Resolution ES-11/2 Resolution ES-11/3 Resolution ES-11/4 Resolution ES-11/5 Resolution ES-11/6 Security Council Resolution 2623 Resolution A/RES/77/229 Easter truce
International organizations	Accession of Moldova to the EU Accession of Ukraine to the EU Brussels summit European Political Community 1st summit 2nd summit 3rd summit Madrid summit NATO virtual summit Operation Oscar Ramstein Air Base meeting EU–Ukraine Summit REPowerEU Steadfast Defender 2024 SWIFT ban against Russian banks Ukraine Recovery Conference Versailles declaration 2023 Vilnius summit 15th BRICS summit
Other	Consecration of Russia F-16 training coalition Finland–NATO relations Finland–Russia border barrier Iron diplomacy Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia Recognition of Russia as a terrorist state Removal of monuments and memorials Streets renamed Ukraine Square, Oslo Serving heads of state and government that have visited Ukraine during the invasion Sweden–NATO relations Swedish anti-terrorism bill

Public

Protests	In Ukraine in Russian-occupied Ukraine demolition of monuments to Alexander Pushkin ArmWomenNow Ukrainian Artistic Front In Russia Angry patriots Club of Angry Patriots Anti-War Committee Suspicious deaths of Russian businesspeople Congress of People's Deputies Council of Mothers and Wives Feminist Anti-War Resistance Flower protests Marina Ovsyannikova Russian Action Committee North Caucasian protests 2022 Russian Far East protests State Duma initiative for charging Vladimir Putin of high treason White-blue-white flag In Belarus In China Great Translation Movement In Czech Republic Czech Republic First!
Companies	Address of the Russian Union of Rectors Boycott of Russia and Belarus "Do not buy Russian goods!" E.N.O.T. Corp. Igor Mangushev McDonald's in Russia Vkusno i tochka NashStore [ru] People's Satellite Starlink satellites Stop Bloody Energy Wagner Group Andrey Aleksandrovich Medvedev Death of Nemes Tarimo Yale CELI List of Companies
Technology	Anonymous and the invasion alerts.in.ua DDoS attacks on Romania DeepStateMap.Live IT Army of Ukraine Killnet Liveuamap Open-source intelligence peacenotwar Russian Asset Tracker Squad303 [pl] Ukraine Siren Alerts Wikipedia threat to block in Russia detention of Mark Bernstein
Spies	Diplomatic expulsions during the Russo-Ukrainian War Russian spies in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Other	Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families Black Sea Grain Initiative Collaboration with Russia We Are Together with Russia Concert for Ukraine Free Buryatia Foundation Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum Game4Ukraine Global Tour for Peace Go by the Forest Guide to the Free World Mozart Group Olena Zelenska Foundation Open letter from Nobel laureates Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion Rubikus.HelpUA Ruslan Shostak Charitable Foundation Russia's War Crimes House Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation Spain letter bomb attacks Yermak-McFaul Expert Group on Russian Sanctions Pavel Filatyev True Russia Volos Declaration Wimbledon ban

Impact

Effects

Human rights

Humanitarian impact
Ukrainian refugee crisis
- Sobieskiego 100
UN Commission of Inquiry
UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission

Terms and phrases

"And now I will show you where the attack on Belarus was prepared from"
"Anglo-Saxons"
"Bavovna"
"Grandpa in his bunker"
"Good evening, we are from Ukraine"
"Orc"
"Putin khuylo!"
"Khuy Voyne!"
"Russia is here forever [ru; uk]"
"Russian warship, go fuck yourself"
"Slava Ukraini!"
"Special military operation"
"To bomb Voronezh"
"Strength is in truth"
"Westsplaining"
"Where have you been for eight years?"
"Without you"

Popular culture

Songs	12 Bakhmut Fortress Bayraktar Bilia topoli City of Mary Flowers of Minefields Generation Cancellation Generation Z Oyda Hey, Hey, Rise Up! Mama ŠČ! Oi u luzi chervona kalyna Slava Ukraini! Stefania Ukraine
Films	20 Days in Mariupol A Rising Fury Follow Me Turn in the Wound Ukraine on Fire 2 [uk]
Other	Babylon'13 Back to the Cold War Borodianka cat [uk] Ghost of Kyiv Kherson watermelon Královec Region Madonna of Kyiv North Atlantic Fella Organization Newspeak in Russia [ru; uk] Patron "Putler" "Putinversteher" Raccoon of Kherson Saint Javelin Saint Mariuburg [ru; uk] Vasylkiv maiolica rooster Vladimir Putin's meeting table Walk of the Brave "Z" military symbol

Key people

Ukrainians	Volodymyr Zelenskyy speeches during the invasion visit to the United States visit to the United Kingdom visits to Europe Andriy Biletsky Denys Shmyhal Denys Kireyev Denys Monastyrsky Denys Prokopenko Iryna Venediktova Kyrylo Budanov Mykola Oleschuk Oleksandr Pavlyuk Oleksandr Syrskyi Oleksii Reznikov Oleksiy Danilov Oleksiy Neizhpapa Ruslan Khomchak Sergiy Kyslytsya Serhiy Shaptala Serhii Sternenko Valerii Zaluzhnyi Vitali Klitschko Yevhen Moisiuk
Russians	Vladimir Putin Aleksandr Dvornikov Aleksandr Lapin Aleksey Nagin Alexander Bortnikov Andrei Kolesnikov Andrei Sychevoi Andrey Belousov Andrey Vorobyov Dmitry Medvedev Gennady Zhidko Igor Kastyukevich Ivan Popov Mikhail Mishustin Maria Lvova-Belova Nikolai Patrushev Oleg Salyukov Oleg Tsokov Ramzan Kadyrov Roman Berdnikov Rustam Muradov Sergey Kobylash Sergey Lavrov Sergey Naryshkin Sergei Shoigu Sergey Surovikin Timur Ivanov Valery Gerasimov Viktor Sokolov Viktor Zolotov Vitaly Gerasimov Vyacheslav Gladkov Vyacheslav Volodin Yevgeny Prigozhin
Other	Alexander Lukashenko Denis Pushilin Leonid Pasechnik