Over 70,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Trained in Europe

The European training mission EUMAM (EU Military Assistance Mission) is one of the pillars of EU support to Ukraine. Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans was in Germany yesterday. He visited various locations where training is provided. This will continue for the time being, as the training mission has recently been extended until mid-November 2026.

So far, EU member states have trained more than 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers. This directly contributes to a better defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Minister Brekelmans: “The training provided by our soldiers makes a direct difference for the Ukrainians on the battlefield. I am greatly impressed by our tireless Dutch soldiers and the brave Ukrainians. Last week, there were various geopolitical developments. The EUMAM trainings remain relevant in order to continue defending Ukraine now and to deter Russia later.”

The Special Training Command (ST-C) in Strausberg oversees all EUMAM activities on German territory. This is the reason for Brekelmans to consult with, among others, the Dutch deputy commander Brigadier General Maurice Timmermans. The minister also spoke with Dutch tank instructors at one of the German training locations. They train Ukrainian crews to effectively operate the Leopard 1A5 battle tank.

EUMAM has existed since late 2022. The military mission aims to improve the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces. All training takes place on EU territory.

EUMAM includes basic, advanced, and specialized training. These cover areas such as medical assistance and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear), demining, logistics, communication, and maintenance. Leadership, collective, operational, and staff training are also included under EUMAM.

The Netherlands has continuously provided up to 10 soldiers for the headquarters in Brussels, the German Strausberg, and Zagan in Poland since the start of EUMAM.

Additionally, last year, it contributed to nearly 100 training modules, spread over 40 trainings in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Romania.

The Dutch contributions included staff and leadership training. It also involved training battalion and brigade staffs in command, strategy, tactics, and medical training. The activities in the Netherlands were mainly related to the supply of military goods and systems.