ADF will deploy 70 soldiers to train Ukrainians in war against Russia

A contingent of 70 Australian soldiers will deploy to the UK this month to support Ukrainian Armed Forces as the European country ‘faces an existential crisis’.

A contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel will deploy to the United Kingdom to train Ukraine’s civilian army.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said 70 soldiers from Darwin’s 1st Brigade would train Ukrainian civilians with backgrounds “from all walks of life” to generate capacity within Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“At the moment, Ukraine faces an existential crisis and so they are now reliant on a volunteer civilian-based army that have come to fight to defend their country, whether they’re hairdressers or taxi drivers,” he said.

“They have completely committed to defending their country, but what they need is training.”

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the Australian soldiers taking part in Operation KUDU would not enter Ukraine. Picture: Defence Media

Mr Keogh said the first contingent would leave Darwin in January, rotating with other groups every three months.

It marks the start of Australia’s involvement in UK-lead and based training program Operation KUDU.

He said each contingent’s size would vary to meet Ukrainian Armed Forces’ training needs in the UK.

“The Australian government has already committed Bushmasters to Ukraine, and we’ll continue to engage with Ukraine and the Ukrainian ambassador here in Australia about what further support Australia may be able to provide in terms of material and equipment to support their war effort,” he said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said would help Ukrainian recruits gain the skills to defend their homeland.

The Ukrainians to be trained are ordinary citizens, aged between 18-55, who have little to no military experience.

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said civilians had volunteered to leave their day jobs to join the Ukrainian defensive.

“Among them are pastry chefs, taxi drivers and hairdressers,” he told the Australian personnel in Darwin on Wednesday.

“But the thing in common among this diverse group is their commitment, their courage, their focus, and their stoicism.”

Mr Keogh said Operation KUDU would primarily involve training in infantry skills and tactics, and Australian soldiers would not be entering Ukraine.

The first contingent of Darwin’s 1st Brigade soldiers will deploy to the UK in January. A deploying soldier (pictured alongside his partner) said learning Ukrainian language was part of the group’s training. Picture: Sierra Haigh

A deploying soldier said he was excited for the upcoming mission and “ready to get going”.

“Some of the training we’ve been doing before we’ve planned to depart is familiarisation with the weapons that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are going to be using,” he said.

“We’ve been doing language training so we can converse and train to a higher standard, so the Ukrainian Armed Forces have a better chance of understanding the training they’re receiving.”

Interpreters will also be embedded in the training program to bridge any language barriers.

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Originally published as ADF will deploy 70 soldiers to train Ukrainians in war against Russia