Once through the grandiose gates of the infantry academy opposite the old town of Toledo, south of Madrid, it takes just a few minutes to reach the confines of the barracks on foot. In a large courtyard bathed in late-August sunshine, some 50 Ukrainian recruits were waiting to be called forward. “They just arrived last night,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Cortes. “And the first thing we’re doing is equipping them.”
In a vast room, they took turns picking up a new backpack and the gear they needed to wear and train with: fatigues, body armor, helmet and shoes. The weapon came later. “They can keep their uniforms after training but leave the heavier equipment, such as bulletproof vests, which are more difficult to transport,” said Cortes.
“With the arrival of these 200 soldiers, we now have 2,000 Ukrainians trained by Spain as part of the EUMAM [European Union Military Assistance Mission] mission,” explained the officer. Barely a year ago, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, promised the creation of this mission to train some 15,000 Ukrainians on the continent. This fall, no fewer than 26,000 have already been trained across 24 EU countries, including 10,000 in Germany and more than 5,000 by France, within the country as well as in Poland, where Paris has sent its instructors.
Given Ukraine’s needs, “we need to do more and faster,” said Borrell, speaking at an informal council of defense ministers in Toledo on August 30. He added, “I proposed to the ministers to raise the objective of the mission to 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers trained” in the coming months. This should lead to an increase in funding. To date, the EU-27 member states have released €167 million for this mission, including €61 million to subsidize the munitions, military equipment and supplies needed for training.
‘One instructor for every four recruits’
Among the 400 training modules offered in Europe, there is everything from basic training to preparation for the use of tanks or artillery pieces transferred to Ukraine, as well as training for snipers, mine-clearance engineers and medics. Education in the piloting of modern combat aircraft, such as the F-16, is also starting, and the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium have already committed to doing so.
“In Toledo, we first provide basic training for new recruits but also paramedical training and training in mine clearance,” said Captain Montero, who coordinates all on-site training. “There is about one instructor for every four recruits.”
Since time is short, they have to move fast. “Initially, it was seven days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm. That was too much. We had to incorporate a rest day,” continued the captain. The schedules also had to be adapted to the sweltering heat of Toledo. But the new arrivals didn’t complain. “We’re here to work, not anything else,” pointed out Sasha, 34, who joined the Ukrainian army back in 2016. “The hardest part is the morale. We’re far from our loved ones, who stayed over there.” Serhiy, 49, added, “If we work hard here, we know we’ll be able to help our country when we return to Ukraine. That’s the main thing.” These two captains will in turn become trainers on their return to Kyiv, to facilitate training directly on site.
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/09/12/eu-steps-up-training-for-ukrainian-soldiers_6133556_4.html
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