United to win: Germany to offer battalion and brigade headquarters training for Ukrainian military

Germany is still backing Ukraine in enhancing their military training, specifically by improving the effectiveness of battalion and brigade headquarters. The success of this effort ultimately relies on the length of time that the Ukrainian command is willing to allocate for personnel to undergo such training.

Major General Christian Freuding, Chief Coordinator of German Military Assistance to Ukraine and Chief of the Planning Staff at the German Ministry of Defense, stated this in a comment to Ukrinform.

The general emphasized that training for the Ukrainian military is essential to bilateral cooperation.

"Training is a subject of discussion with our Ukrainian friends and partners. Yesterday, I discussed with Rustem Umerov how to improve our efforts in this direction. There are certain ideas for training, especially at the level of your battalion and brigade headquarters, to make them more effective and combat-ready," the general said.

Freuding noted that improving the training system depends on the Ukrainian command's ability to involve military personnel in training. There is often a dilemma between the duration of the courses and the urgent need for the military at the front.

"Sometimes we say that six weeks are needed, and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the General Staff claim that they can only allow two, three, or four weeks. At the same time, both positions are correct in their way," Freuding explained.

Freuding noted that over the past two and a half years, significant progress has been made in cooperation and adaptation of training programs to Ukrainian realities. The military officer added that the parties will always seek compromises regarding the duration of the exercises and the amount of knowledge that can be transferred in a limited period.

"It remains a dilemma, but over the past two and a half years, we have found good compromises," he said.

When asked about the possibility of organizing exercises on the territory of Ukraine, the general explained that this creates additional risks due to the Russian threat:

"It is more risky because the Russians will try to hit any training facilities in Ukraine where NATO troops will be stationed. This would require much more organizational efforts from us."

He also emphasized the advantages of conducting training in Germany and other NATO countries:

"We have excellent educational institutions in Germany and all other European NATO countries with much better training conditions. Therefore, I believe that a much better solution is to conduct training in Germany, in Europe, because we can be much more efficient and invest in instructors, strengthening the level of training, since we do not need to worry about security," the Bundeswehr general summed up.

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It should be noted that Kyiv expects its partners to take the initiative to equip Ukrainian brigades and battalions. Previously, such an initiative was carried out in cooperation with France.

"We expect partners to take the initiative in equipping our brigades and battalions. We have successful experience of cooperation with France, which provided training for one of the Ukrainian brigades and also provided it with armored vehicles," Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov said.

It is worth mentioning that France became the first country to conduct comprehensive training and provide the Ukrainian brigade with weapons and military equipment.

French President Emmanuel Macron previously stated that the French military would conduct training for 2,300 Ukrainian soldiers of the new Anne of Kyiv brigade.

The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom also provided the necessary advanced equipment for 30,000 service members of Ukraine's armed forces who received training in Britain.