Ukrainian troopers will begin coaching on Leopard 2 tanks subsequent week as a part of an EU-funded coaching mission, as Kyiv’s allies search to deploy the newly pledged automobiles forward of a feared Russian offensive this spring.
Two individuals aware of the preparations mentioned that every little thing was prepared to start instructing the Ukrainian navy to deploy the trendy battle tanks after a number of European nations final week pledged to ship them to Kyiv after months of deliberations and Ukrainian strain.
Berlin’s determination to ship the German-made Leopard 2s marked a watershed second in western assist for Ukraine by agreeing to provide giant numbers of recent Nato-standard major battle tanks.
Germany additionally agreed for different nations who function the tank to ship them to Ukraine. That may solely occur after sufficient Ukrainian tank crews have been educated to make use of them.
The ultimate particulars of the coaching plan had been thrashed out at a US-led assembly of western defence officers in Germany on Wednesday. The coaching is predicted to final about six weeks.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s defence and safety chief, mentioned forward of conferences with Ukrainian defence officers in Kyiv on Thursday that “crews of the battle tanks” can be educated beneath the EU mission, describing the automobiles as “a robust reinforcement of the Ukrainian navy functionality”.
“Coaching will begin from subsequent week,” mentioned one of many individuals, including that tons of of Ukrainian troopers had already flown to areas throughout Germany and Poland. “It’s all going in a short time as a result of the Ukrainians see the urgency.”
“Politically, it’s cleared,” mentioned a second official.
The information comes because the EU on Thursday introduced plans to instruct 30,000 Ukrainian troops via its coaching mission, double the preliminary deliberate quantity.
The EU may even enhance the mission’s finances by €45mn, and lift its funding for weapons equipped to Ukraine by €500mn to €3.6bn.
The EU established the initiative in October, with an preliminary period of two years. The unprecedented step was aimed toward pooling member states’ capabilities to show Ukrainians easy methods to use western weapons being supplied to Kyiv, and to supply “particular person, collective and specialised coaching” to troops.
European defence officers have rushed to deal with a spread of sensible issues, together with securing sufficient beds and kitchens to accommodate the Ukrainian troopers and discovering ample translators.
Officers are additionally grappling with challenges of easy methods to transport the automobiles to the entrance strains. “If you wish to carry them in time, earlier than April, you possibly can think about what number of trains, vehicles you want to get them there,” mentioned one of many officers. “That’s solely automobiles. [There are] additionally spare components, ammunition — and time is proscribed.”
