UK beats target for training Ukrainian Armed Forces
The UK has already met the target of training 2,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) by the end of the financial year.
The UK has trained 2,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Crown Copyright
The Ministry of Defence now expects to surpass the figure by around 300 people.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon set the target last summer during his visit to Kyiv in which he met UK trainers and Ukrainian personnel to see demonstrations of infantry and medical skills being provided.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
This underlines the UK’s commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and our other Eastern European partners.
It sends another clear message that we stand firm with Ukraine in the face of aggression.
The UK is training the UAF in identification of mines and IEDs, defensive operations in an urban environment, medical care, logistics and operational planning. The Defence Secretary has confirmed that training will continue for another year.
Since March last year, 16 UK teams have deployed at 10 sites, including Desna, Zhytomyr and Lviv. In October, Mr Fallon announced the number of trainers in country at any time would be increasing from 75 to 100.
The UK has also gifted over £1million worth of equipment to Ukraine. This includes helmets, night-vision goggles and global positioning systems, cold weather protective clothing and field tents.
Last month the UK hosted Deputy Defense Minister for Ukraine Ihor Dolhov, who met with Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt.