Ireland joins Ukrainian soldiers training program

Ireland is allocating dozens of instructors to train the Ukrainian military.

The state broadcasting company of Ireland Raidió Teilifís Éireann reported this, citing statement of the country’s Ministry of Defense.

About 30 Irish military personnel will train Ukrainians as part of a large European group of instructors in the frameworks of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy mission.

Initially, the training was supposed to include landmine clearance, combat medicine, and other non-lethal support, but the Department of Defence has now confirmed that troops will also be involved in weapons training.

At the same time, the government emphasized that it is not supplying and does not intend to supply Ukraine with any weapons.

“Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is characterised by our non-participation in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements,” the statement reads.

Providing soldiers with basic military training including leadership skills and drilling instruction does not impact this policy of military neutrality.

According to Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy, Ireland is providing “very basic military training to transfer soldiers from a civilian life to a life in the Ukrainian Army”.

He insisted that this is being done “in the confines of recognising our military neutrality and recognising our political support for Ukraine.”

As previously reported, Irish troops were engaged in the training of the Ukrainian military in Cyprus.

However, at that time, Ukrainian soldiers were only trained in explosive ordnance disposal and demining.

The training is part of EUMAM Ukraine, a training mission of the European Union for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Due to the program, Ukrainian servicemen undergo training provided by the member states of the union as part of assistance in repelling Russian aggression.