Ukrainian soldiers will be trained in Poland and Germany as part of a new European Union initiative to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities in order to help it defend its territorial integrity and protect civilians following Russia’s invasion.
Up to 15,000 Ukrainian troops are expected to be trained initially as part of the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM), which received preliminary approval in October and was formally given the green light by the bloc’s foreign ministers yesterday.
The mission, costing €107 million over two years, plus €16 million for ammunition needed for exercises, is expected to start at the end of this month.
The European Union stands with Ukraine, until Ukraine’s victory, under Ukrainian parameters.
Until then, we stay united in our support.
Today, we launched the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine.
Full remarks after the Foreign Affairs Council: https://t.co/MXTMeNIRzw pic.twitter.com/jwfwBmaij4
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 14, 2022
Around 20 countries have declared so far that they want to take part in the mission, whose operational-level command will be located in Poland, according to Polskie Radio.
The public broadcaster adds that training will be provided for light infantry and territorial defence forces, sappers and medics, while Ukrainians will also be schooled in command tactics.
“The mission will function in Poland, also in Germany and in any other country that takes on this responsibility,” said Poland’s foreign minister, Zbigniew Rau.
If other nations do not assume such a role, “then we will host instructors from countries that decide not to open such missions. Of course, we will train our Ukrainian guests [using] Polish forces and forces from other EU countries,” added Rau, quoted by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Most of the training involving military instructors from EU countries is to take place in southeast Poland, which is close to the border with Ukraine, allowing its troops to be easily deployed back to their home country, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reports.
The complex structure of the training mission, with two commands – one in Poland and one in Germany – is the result of disputes between Warsaw and Berlin, Deutsche Welle adds. Germany reportedly voiced concern about Poland’s “overly offensive” attitude to Russia.
Unijni szefowie dyplomacji zatwierdzili wojskową misję szkoleniową dla Ukrainy. Jej złożona struktura z dwoma dowództwami, w Polsce i Niemczech, to wynik sporów między Warszawą i Berlinem.https://t.co/SSCCTEUFtW
— Tomasz Bielecki (@TomaszBielecki) November 14, 2022
Poland has been among Ukraine’s strongest international supporters during the war. It has donated more military equipment to Kyiv than any country other than the United States, provided extensive humanitarian and diplomatic support, and has pushed for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
Poland has also been the primary destination for refugees fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine. Around one million Ukrainian refugees are estimated to remain in Poland.
Announcing the EU Military Assistance Mission last month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the initiative “is not just a training mission, it is clear proof that the EU will stand by Ukraine for as long as is needed.”
Main image credit: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine/Flickr (under CC BY SA 2.0)
Peter Kononczuk is senior editor at Notes from Poland. He was previously a journalist for Agence France-Presse (AFP) in London and Warsaw.
