EU training 1,100 Ukrainian soldiers in different camps

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has visited the Brzeg training facility.

“I have been visiting the Ukrainian soldiers being trained. I am very humbled by these encounters. I am very humbled and honoured to be here with Ukrainian soldiers that are being trained here to defend their soil against Russia’s aggression. Everybody is full of admiration for the bravery of the Ukrainians soldiers, their courage and determination to defend their homeland. The Ukrainian men and women who are defending their nation and their freedom,” he said, according to the message posted on the website of European Union External Action.

"When I met with President [of Ukraine, Volodymyr] Zelenskyy in Kyiv in April, I told him: 'You do not need our applause. Everybody is saying that you are very courageous, but you do not need our applause. What you need is our support - our support with material and with training, with weapons, with equipment and training your soldiers to face this war.'

That is what we are doing. That is what I told the Ukrainian soldiers: 'We try to support you as much as we can, for as long as you need.' We are providing weapons. We are financing weapons from all Member States and also here providing military know-how. I have seen how here, in this very specialised training camp, the soldiers learn how to fight.

Today, everybody agrees that the Ukrainian army is one of the best armies in the world. They have shown, they have proved that they are, in the real fight, one of the best armies in the world. They have been resisting the Russian aggression [like] nobody could have expected. At the beginning of the war, most people were afraid that Russia could conquer Kyiv in a couple of weeks. And, quite some time later, they are resisting, and not only resisting - they are pushing back the Russian army. Despite the [Russian] aggression [which] has been cruelly attacking them, and now trying to push Ukrainian people into the darkness and the cold, trying to destroy all electricity systems in Ukraine by bombing systematically all civilian infrastructure.

This EU Military Assistance [Mission] for Ukraine is a very tangible proof and illustration of the overall European will to support Ukraine: militarily, financially, economically and politically. Our support is being developed and will continue [being] developed.

This Mission is an unprecedented Mission from many points of view. It is pushing the boundaries of the European Union military cooperation [to] new levels.

First, it has been established in a record time – only a few weeks –on 15 November, and I am glad to announce today that the Mission Commander, Admiral [Hervé] Blejean – who is accompanying me today and is the head of the Mission –, has declared its full [initial] operational capability.

This Mission is already working. This Mission will train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, it is going to cost to the European Union budget [around] 100 million euros ($105 million) and, already, now, 1,100 soldiers are being trained in different camps.

Some 20 Member States participate in this Mission. It is the widest military mission that the European Union has ever done for any partner. This Mission will generate additional training offers to address Ukrainian needs. I have seen here not only EU Officers, but also British and Canadians.

I have to thank Poland, I have to thank a lot Poland for the big effort that the Polish Army and the Polish people are doing. Without them, without the strong support of the Polish government, it would not be possible to develop in such a short time this Mission and to make it operational.

We are also going to provide resources: 16 million euros ($16.9 million) for lethal equipment for training purposes. And more will come. Other countries will join us: Norway, for example, not a European Union member, has announced they will be supporting this Mission financially with [around] 15 million euros ($15.8 million) in order to provide the required ammunition and training material.

I want to thank the Combined Arms Training Commander of the Polish Army, Major General [Piotr] Trytek, who is here with us. Thank you for hosting me. Thank you for showing me the work that you are doing here. Thank you to the Polish Army and thank you to you, Major General, for the extraordinary work that you are doing.

We are doing a lot of things in supporting Ukraine. In terms of figures, I can say that the military support to the Ukrainian army is more than 3.1 billion euros ($3.3 billion) coming from the European Peace Facility (EPF). If I add up to this figure the amount of bilateral support that Member States are providing to Ukraine, we are reaching almost nine billion euros ($9.5 billion) – three times more, which is an impressive amount in such a short period of time.
War has also a cyber dimension. Today, when I am here visiting this training camp, in Kyiv, we are opening the Cyber Lab on Defence, together with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine [Oleksii Reznikov], and also financed by the European Peace Facility.

This Cyber Lab Defence will help to advance the skills needed to defend Ukraine from the cyber-attacks that they are suffering.

All and all, my presence here today is a good example of how the European Union is supporting Ukraine as much as we can and for as long as needed, in order for the Ukrainian soldier to defend their country.

This Mission is a good example of the European Defence capabilities and the will of the European Union Member States to work together in order to offer united support to Ukraine. There are many other things that are being done by Member States, each one on their side in other parts of the European Union, but here is the value added of all of us working together. Training Ukrainian units, as a unit, looking for the specialised knowledge that they have to know in order to have a high-intensity war – as is this war.

This mission makes us proud of what the European Union represents today. And I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the Ukrainian soldiers for the courage that they are showing and for their will to defend their people.
This mission has a logo, which puts together the colours of Ukraine and the European Union.
And with that, this Mission, dear General, is becoming fully operational.

I thank you, and the Polish army for your support," Borrell said.