EU to train 15,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the training mission – media

The European Union plans to train up to 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers under the new training mission.

European Pravda reported about this with reference to Spiegel.

EU member states agreed on this at the working level.

According to the diplomats involved in the talks, 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers are to undergo special training, such as tactical combat training for commanders or courses for engineers.

If the EU approves the mission, which will be given the rather unwieldy name “European Union Military Assistance Mission” or EUMAM, it will combine the actions of several states, which will allow for better coordination. Plans for the mission should be determined already in mid-October.

During the discussion, some disagreements arose regarding the details of the mission planning. Poland proposed to create something similar to a central training camp for Ukrainians near the border with Ukraine. According to the military, the Poles wanted to train entire combat units up to the battalion there.

Germany is concerned that the establishment of a large training center in Poland alone would take a long time, and that such a camp would have to be carefully protected from possible espionage by Russian intelligence services, as well as possible attacks or sabotage.

A compromise was found at the working level. It is assumed that the Poles will create a “headquarters of forces” and will receive EU funds for this.

Instead of a single training center in the countries of the European Union, separate training courses by specialty should be organized.

Germany is currently planning its own training courses with the Bundeswehr. For example, German instructors could teach Ukrainian commanders tactics in a combat simulation center. Sappers, doctors and other specialists would also have the opportunity to undergo training in Germany.

The final details of the EUMAM mission are to be agreed in Brussels next week. Then a decision on the project should be made at the next official meeting of the EU Council on October 17.

EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell proposed plans to establish a training mission at the end of August.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that almost 5,000 Ukrainian servicemen have undergone training in Great Britain. The program launched by the British government is called Operation INTERFLEX. Currently, instructors from Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom itself are involved in it.