Norway will double the number of its military instructors who train soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram on Thursday, European Pravda reports.

The Government of Norway has made a decision to boost the number of instructors from 75 to 150 participating in international initiatives to train Ukrainian servicemen in 2023.

“Continuing support to Ukraine is absolutely necessary. War is exhausting, and Ukraine desperately needs new soldiers. Training and preparation are the entire basis of further defensive combat for those who undergo both basic and specialized training,” he said.

The head of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense reminded that the country had already agreed to provide substantial financial assistance to the training mission of the European Union, and also allocated funds for the training programs of Great Britain and NATO.

“Norway is a significant participant in various international mechanisms, and we willingly support cooperation with the West. Together, we are sending a clear signal that we do not accept Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Bjørn Arild Gram emphasizes.

Norway will allocate NOK 150 million or €14.5 million to finance the EU training mission for the Ukrainian military.

Norway’s aim is to support the operational budget of the mission. The training process will be flexible and scalable to assist Ukraine depending on its needs. The funds allocated by Norway will go to the European Peace Fund.

Besides, the governments of the Netherlands, Estonia and Norway have agreed to transfer to Ukraine an additional Role II-type mobile hospital. The mobile hospital itself will be provided by the Estonian side.

Meanwhile, Norway and the Netherlands will contribute funds to ensure that the field hospital will be at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, Norway has donated five military ambulance buses to Ukraine through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).

Last month, Norway handed over a new batch of military aid to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The batch of aid included: 1 155 mm M109 self-propelled howitzer, 20 thousand spare parts for previously provided artillery installations, 55 thousand units of winter military uniform, 55 thousand dressing materials and individual packages and 30 thousand dry rations (MRE – ed.).