The Diplomat
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, presided yesterday the ceremony of delivery of diplomas to 30 Ukrainian soldiers who have passed the third Course of Treatment of Casualties in Combat given at the Infantry Academy of Toledo, in the framework of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAN UA). During the ceremony, held in the Aula Magna of the Academy, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense imposed, through the Embassy, a “distinction of honor” to 14 Spanish officers involved in the training.
During her speech, Robles praised the Ukrainian servicemen for their “lesson of generosity and heroism” and assured that “the cause of Ukraine is also ours, because it is the just cause of peace, freedom, values and democracy”, at a time when the city of Kyiv is suffering “a cruel attack with drones”. “I have had the honor of being here welcoming and bidding farewell to many of your colleagues and in all of them I have found a capacity for sacrifice and love for Ukraine,” she added.
Likewise, Robles assured that Spain will continue to help Ukraine with the delivery of material, with assistance to the wounded and through instruction and training courses. “Spain is and will be firmly committed to supporting Ukraine together with our NATO and EU allies and we will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine for as long as necessary until they win this terrible war,” she said.
For his part, the Ukrainian military attaché in Spain, Colonel Serhii Vtorykh, stated that “Spain was one of the first countries to offer material assistance for our fight” and was also one of the first countries “that offered to train our troops at the most dramatic moment for Ukraine”.
Therefore, Colonel Vtorykh presented the decorations to the Spanish personnel “on behalf of all Ukrainians”. “Our soldiers are grateful for the spirit of comradeship, equality and human concern that reigns in the center of Toledo,” he said. “Let everyone present know that Ukraine will never forget what our friends have done so far, nor what they will do in the future,” he added.
Training process
The European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAN UA), under operational control of the Operations Command and under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), is ready to adapt to the operational needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has the capacity to modify its organization and personnel to meet the required training. In support of the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Toledo Training Coordination Center has been created, which aims to achieve the rotational training of approximately 400 Ukrainian military personnel every two months.
According to the needs expressed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, five independent training areas were identified, one of them related to basic training and the rest to specific training such as precision marksmen, demining, training against improvised explosive devices and health care for combat casualties. These training courses have been expanded to include more specific training, such as that for Leopard tank crews.
So far, and since the training of Ukrainian personnel began on November 14, 2022, 1,217 Ukrainian soldiers have completed their training in Spain and another 247 are being trained.
