France to expand training programs for Ukrainian military in 2024
France to expand training programs for Ukrainian military (Photo: ссо-mil-in-ua)
France has trained 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers over the two years of war. In 2024, the training program for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be expanded, according to the Ministry of Armed Forces of France.
"In addition to supplying arms and military equipment, France supports Kyiv through the training of Ukrainian soldiers," the statement says.
It is noted that the goal is to enhance their skills according to their needs so that Ukrainian soldiers can continue to defend their territory.
How many soldiers have already been trained
Training takes place in France and Poland, mainly as part of the European Union's military assistance mission to support Ukraine (EUMAM).
Overall, since the beginning of the war, France has trained approximately 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers, including 8,800 by 2023.
Training is conducted in three directions:
- Training related to tactics, implementation, and maintenance of various supplied equipment. This includes the Caesar self-propelled artillery unit, the Crotale surface-to-air missile system, AMX 10-RC tanks, and the SAMP/T air defense system;
- Specialized training. It focuses on critical know-how and covers various areas such as healthcare, logistics, demining, or armored reconnaissance;
- Formation of tactical units. Their goal is to strengthen the ability of Ukrainian officers to command platoons or battalions oriented towards combat operations in urban conditions and trenches.
The Ministry notes that in 2024, the goal is to expand this training to the air and naval forces.
France's assistance to Ukraine
At the beginning of February, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that the country intended not only to increase funding for assistance to Ukraine but also to expand the range of arms provided.
Also, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukraine-to-receive-new-aid-package-from-france-1708115671.htmlannounced that Ukraine would receive a new package of military assistance from France, which would include Caesar artillery units.
In addition, the French government is seeking funding for a 3 billion euro package of military aid to Ukraine following significant cuts in the country's spending.
It was recently announced that France had invested money and upgraded Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-24M aircraft to enable them to use bombs supplied by Paris to Kyiv.
