The Minister for Defence welcomes over 200 Ukrainian military personnel who will train in Spain at the Torrejón Air Base

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, tonight welcomed 225 Ukrainian military and civilian personnel at the Torrejón Air Base, who will undergo training in Spain over the coming weeks, under the coordination of the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC).

Of the total number of Ukrainians who have arrived in Spain, 198 of them with no previous military experience, will participate in a basic combat training module to be held at the facilities for the Infantry Academy in Toledo. They are accompanied by seven other troops who will be involved in supporting the contingent.

This is the second batch of Ukrainian personnel to be trained at the centre, following a first module held between November and December for 64 personnel.

The other 20 Ukrainian military personnel will participate in a basic familiarisation course with the Hawk anti-aircraft system, for which Spain has donated six launchers to Ukraine. This two-week training will take place at the 74^th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment in El Copero (Seville).

"On behalf of all Spanish citizens, it is an honour to be able to welcome you here today. Spain feels very united with all the Ukrainian people. We admire your heroism, your bravery and the way you are defending your country", said Robles in her welcoming remarks at the Torrejón base.

The Toledo Training Coordination Centre is large enough to provide training for rotations of around 400 Ukrainian military personnel every two months. The training programmes offered by Spain cover basic training, combat casualty management, precision marksmanship, action against improvised explosive devices, area de-mining, use of anti-aircraft weapons and other areas that may arise, depending on the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"You are going to find a Spanish army with the greatest professionalism, the greatest dedication, and one of the best in the world. They are going to share this with you and teach you the training you may need in a war as cruel as the one Ukraine is going through", the Minister for Defence added.

In this way, the Armed Forces are contributing to the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA), which is under Operational Control of the Operations Command. To this end, it aims to contribute to improving the military capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to effectively conduct military operations, so that the country can defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, effectively exercise its sovereignty and protect the civilian population.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, was also present at the Torrejón Air Base, where he said that the Spanish military will devote "body and soul" to providing them with the highest possible level of training during their time in Spain.

"For us, it is a real honour to welcome you to our country and it is with great admiration that we do so, because we know that you are here voluntarily and are willing to do anything to defend your country", said the Chief of Defence Staff. "The instructors you will have are aware of your dedication, spirit of service and devotion of the highest level".

The Ukrainian ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, was present at the welcome ceremony and thanked the Government of Spain and the Minister for Defence for "standing with us from the very first moments of the Russian aggression".

"Spain has shown itself not only to be a faithful friend in defending the principles of international rights enshrined in the UN Charter, but also one of the main partners in providing us with aid, war equipment and all kinds of humanitarian support to our compatriots who were forced to leave their homes in Ukraine", said the ambassador.

Next arrival of wounded military personnel

On the other hand, the Minister for Defence announced at the Torrejón base that a new group of wounded Ukrainian soldiers will be transferred to Spain next Saturday, 14 January, for treatment at Spanish military hospitals.

"The ties between Spain and Ukraine are getting stronger all the time", said Robles, who also had a special greeting for Alona, a Ukrainian citizen who has lived in Spain for 14 years and who has arrived in Torrejón today to receive training and be able to help her country.

The wounded will be transported by an Air and Space Army flight from Poland, which will make a first stopover on Saturday afternoon to take three wounded and one accompanying person to Zaragoza for treatment at the General Defence Hospital in that city. Subsequently, the same flight will continue on to Torrejón with another four wounded and one accompanying person for treatment at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital.

This is the first time that the Gómez Ulla Hospital has received Ukrainian wounded for treatment. With the three new wounded soldiers, the number of Ukrainian military personnel treated at the Zaragoza Hospital will rise to 39.

The Secretary General for Defence Policy, Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, and the Commander of the Operations Command, Lieutenant General of the Air and Space Army, Francisco Braco, also came to welcome the Ukrainian citizens.

The welcome ceremony ended with an emotional applause from all those present and cheers for Ukraine from the newly arrived soldiers.

Non official translation