Countries, economies and regions

Select a country, economy or region to find embassies, country briefs, economic fact sheets, trade agreements, aid programs, information on sanctions and more.

International relations

Global security

Regional architecture

Global themes

Treaties

International organisations

Foreign Arrangements Scheme
 

Trade and investment

About free trade agreements (FTAs)

About foreign investment

For Australian business

Stakeholder engagement

Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs)

Trade and investment data, information and publications

WTO, G20, OECD, APEC and IPEF and ITAG

Services and digital trade

Development

Australia’s development program

Who we work with

Development topics

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Where we deliver our Development Program

Humanitarian action

Where and how Australia provides emergency assistance.

Performance assessment

People-to-people

Australia Awards

New Colombo Plan

Public diplomacy

Foundations, councils and institutes

International Labour Mobility

Australian Volunteers Program

Supporting organisations in developing countries by matching them with skilled Australians. 

Sports diplomacy

Australia is a successful global leader and innovator in sport.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

A global platform for achievement, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation

About Australia

Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.

Australia in Brief publication

This is the 52nd edition of Australia in Brief, revised and updated in February 2021

Travel

Travel advice

To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, we maintain travel advisories for more than 170 destinations.

International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

Prove your COVID-19 vaccinations when you travel overseas.

Passports

The Australian Passport Office and its agents are committed to providing a secure, efficient and responsive passport service for Australia.

24-hour consular emergency helpline

Visas

Crisis Hub

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Overview

On 24 February 2022, Russia began its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Australia unequivocally supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a true and reliable partner, we continue to play our part to uphold the UN Charter, international law and the rules-based order.

Australia is working with our partners to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its illegal and immoral invasion. Australia's objective, along with our partners, is to empower Ukraine to end this war on its own terms.

Australia monitors developments to inform travel advice.

Travel advice and consular assistance

Australians should follow the latest travel advice for Ukraine, Russia and Belarus:

If you have significant concerns for your welfare, or that of other Australians, contact the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia.

Australia's response to Russia's invasion

Actions to support Ukraine

Australia has contributed important defence, economic, energy and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Australian support committed to date totals more than AUD 1.3 billion.

Australia has committed:

  • more than AUD 1.1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, including through:
    • a substantial package, announced in July 2024, of around AUD 250 million in materiel comprising air defence missiles, air-to-ground and anti-tank weapons, and artillery, mortar, cannon, and small arms ammunition, together with boots,
    • vehicles, including 120 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, 56 M113 armoured vehicles, and 28 M40 medium trucks,
    • M777 Howitzers and artillery ammunition, including under a partnership arrangement with France,
    • AUD 102 million sourced from Australian Defence Industry, including for drones, counter-drone systems, deployable 3D Printers and accessories, portable X-Ray machines, and soldier personal combat equipment, and
    • financial contributions, including AUD 50 million to the International Fund for Ukraine, directly supporting the procurement of priority military capabilities and AUD 24 million to NATO's Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Trust Fund.
  • Under Operation KUDU, the Australian Defence Force continues to make an invaluable contribution through:
    • training of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in the United Kingdom as part of a UK-led multinational effort, and
    • deployment of a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, including up to 100 support personnel, for 6 months from October 2023 to protect a vital gateway for international assistance to Ukraine.
  • Working with partners to support Ukraine's military capabilities as a member of the UK and Latvia jointly-led Drone Capability Coalition and NATO's new security and training initiative for Ukraine as an operational partner.
  • AUD 85 million in humanitarian assistance to help meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian people, with a particular focus on at-risk groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
  • AUD 20 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and roughly 80,000 tonnes of thermal coal to support Ukraine's energy security.
  • AUD 2 million to the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) for emergency response and disability inclusion programs in Ukraine.
  • Duty-free access for Ukrainian imports to Australia (since 4 July 2022)
    • this measure has been extended until 3 July 2026.
  • AUD 9.4 million to assist Ukraine's State Border Guard Service to upgrade border management equipment, improve cyber security and enhance border operations.
  • AUD 1 million to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support the Agency's response to the situation in Ukraine.
  • AUD 800,000 worth of vital detection and protection equipment to Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (through the IAEA), to help ensure the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities.
  • AUD 200,000 to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to help protect against chemical attacks.
  • AUD 200,000 to the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors to offer professional development to 7 Ukrainian mental health professionals.
  • AUD 150,000 to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Rapid Response Plan to support agricultural production in Ukraine.
  • Technical assistance through the Australian Taxation Office to help Ukraine protect its revenue base, in partnership with the World Bank and OECD.

To support Ukrainian nationals taking refuge in Australia, we have prioritised visa applications from Ukrainian nationals, particularly those with Australian connections. As at 31 March 2024, the Department of Home Affairs has granted over 17,400 visas to Ukrainians and more than 13,300 Ukrainians with these visas have since arrived in Australia. We are also providing AUD 21.3 million for the allocation of additional temporary visas, extended access to Medicare, and community support.

Actions against Russia

Russia must be held accountable for its actions against Ukraine's sovereignty, the rule of law and the UN Charter. Australia has:

  • Imposed more than 1200 targeted financial sanctions against persons and entities supporting Russia's illegal invasion (see more information on Australia's autonomous sanctions regime).
  • Imposed trade sanctions banning the:
    • import of Russian oil, refined petroleum products, coal and gas
    • import of Russian gold
    • export of alumina and bauxite to Russia
    • export of certain luxury goods to Russia, including wine and cosmetics.
  • Announced a ban on the export of all machinery and related parts to Russia and areas temporarily under Russian control.
  • Denied Russia access to most-favoured-nation tariff treatment and imposed an additional tariff of 35 per cent on goods produced or manufactured by Russia or Belarus.
  • Implemented the G7+ price caps on Russian oil and refined petroleum products.
  • Directed Export Finance Australia to reject any requests for loans or other finance that support trade with, or investment in, Russia or Belarus.
  • Shared, through AUSTRAC, information on Russian financial crime with Ukrainian and other international counterparts and worked domestically to freeze Russian assets.
  • Worked with partners to impose costs on Russia and Belarus in the multilateral system and ensure that the invasion of Ukraine has severe consequences for their global standing, including
    • working with partners to exclude or confront Russia and highlight the negative global effects of its invasion of Ukraine in key multilateral fora (G20, APEC, UN)
    • supporting relevant UN resolutions on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including in the General Assembly
  • Supported legal mechanisms to hold Russia to account, including by
    • joining the Core Group on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, to consider options for holding Russia's political and military leadership to account
    • intervening at the International Court of Justice in support of Ukraine in its case against Russia
    • committing AUD 1 million and three professional staff to the International Criminal Court, including to support its investigation into the situation in Ukraine.

Advice for Australians who want to help

As the Ukrainian people continue to suffer from the devastating impacts of Russia's invasion, we understand that Australians may wish to materially help.

The most effective way to deliver assistance is to donate money to a reputable organisation which has an established presence in the affected area. Donations of money provide flexibility, providing relief organisations on the ground with a greater ability to adapt their responses to evolving needs. Learn more about the benefits of donating money.

See more information on Australian NGOs operating in Ukraine.

Bilateral engagement with Russia and Belarus

The Australian Government has limited all bilateral cooperation with Russia and Belarus since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Australia only engages bilaterally with Russia and Belarus when it is critical to delivering on our national interests, such as safety of Australian citizens, security and ongoing operations of our diplomatic presence in Russia.

The Australian Government has asked all state, territory and local governments and public universities to put on hold existing bilateral cooperation with the Russian and Belarusian governments, including Russian and Belarusian subnational government entities, and to reconsider new engagement.

For more information see the Foreign Arrangements Scheme or contact the Foreign Arrangements Taskforce in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at foreignarrangements@dfat.gov.au.

Humanitarian situation in Ukraine

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is serious and could deteriorate further, with Russian attacks targeting energy generation, distribution and critical infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that nearly fifteen million people in Ukraine – about 40 per cent of the population – are in need of humanitarian assistance. This includes 3.6 million people internally displaced. Over 6.5 million people have fled Ukraine globally. Most of those fleeing are women and children. Particularly vulnerable groups who may be unable to flee and may struggle to access humanitarian assistance include older persons and persons with disabilities. 

Media releases and statements

More information

The Australian Embassy, Ukraine

The Australian Embassy, Russia

Site map +
Back to top