The Belgian army has already trained 1,000 soldiers since the start of the war in Ukraine under an EU assistance programme, Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder has indicated.
Last year, the EU launched Military Assistance Mission Ukraine, which aims to teach Ukrainian military personnel how to use Western military equipment donated by EU Member States.
As a participant in this programme, Belgium also commits to training Ukrainian troops – both in Belgium and abroad. Between 50 and 100 Belgian soldiers are reported to be involved in helping to train Ukrainian troops.
Ukrainian soldiers receive an array of specialised training from Belgian troops, such as how to use underwater drones, defuse sea mines, and conduct demining on land. Belgian instructors in Poland and Germany also give combat training to Ukrainian troops. This includes marksman training and teaching Ukrainian artillerymen how to provide fire support.
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In April, the European Council revealed that 16,000 Ukrainian troops had been trained by European military personnel since the start of the war. By the end of this year, the EU aims to have trained a total of 30,000 soldiers. The cost of this programme is estimated at €106.7 million.
In August, Belgium is set to participate in a NATO programme to teach Ukrainian pilots how to fly F-16 fighter planes. These jets are in operation with the Air Component of the Belgian army, but will not be delivered to Ukraine.
