Margarita Robles presides over the awarding of diplomas to Ukrainian soldiers who completed the 3rd Combat Casualty Treatment Course

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, presided over the ceremony to award diplomas to 30 Ukrainian military personnel who completed the third Combat Casualty Treatment Course given at the Infantry Academy of Toledo, within the framework of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAN UA).

During the ceremony, held in the Aula Magna of the Infantry Academy and which began with the playing of the Ukrainian and Spanish national anthems, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence also awarded a "distinction of honour for assistance to the Army" to the 14 Spanish military personnel involved in the training.

The Minister of Defence addressed the Ukrainian fighters who have completed their training, whom she said "are giving us a lesson in generosity and heroism", and reminded them that "the cause of Ukraine is also ours, because it is the just cause of peace, freedom, values and democracy", at a time when the city of Kiev is suffering "a cruel attack with drones".

"I have had the honour of being here to welcome and bid farewell to many of your colleagues and I have found in all of them a capacity for sacrifice and love for Ukraine," said Robles, who assured that support for the country would continue, whether in the form of the delivery of material, assistance to the wounded or instruction and training courses.

"Spain is and will remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine together with our NATO and EU allies, and we will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine for as long as necessary until they win this terrible war," said the minister, who added that "all the Ukrainian fighters are giving us a lesson in heroism and generosity".

The Minister for Defence also handed diplomas to the Secretary General for Defence Policy, Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez; the head of the Operations Command, Lieutenant General of the Air Force Francisco Braco; the head of the Toledo Training Coordination Center (TTCC), Brigadier General of the Army Francisco Martínez Lozano, and the Ukrainian military attaché in Spain, Colonel Serhii Vtorykh.

The Ukrainian military attaché stressed that "Spain was one of the first countries to offer material aid for our fight" and that it was also among the first "to offer to train our troops at the most dramatic moment for Ukraine". Colonel Vtorykh presented the awards to the Spanish personnel "on behalf of all Ukrainians".

"Our soldiers appreciate the spirit of camaraderie, equality and human concern that reigns at the Toledo centre. Let everyone here know that Ukraine will never forget what our friends have done so far, nor what they will do in the future," he said, asserting that "peace, freedom and democracy are the most important riches for any civilised nation" and that "none of this can be taken for granted".

Training process

The European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAN UA), under the operational control of the Operations Command and under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), is ready to adapt to the operational needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and can amend its organisation and personnel to meet the required training.

In support of the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Toledo Training Coordination Center has been established, which aims to achieve the rotational training of approximately 400 Ukrainian military personnel every two months.

According to the needs expressed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, five separate training areas were identified, one of which related to basic training and the others to specific training such as precision marksmanship, mine clearance, improvised explosive device training and medical care for combat casualties.

These training courses have been expanded to include more specific training courses such as that for Leopard tank crews.

So far, and since the training of Ukrainian personnel began on 14 November 2022, a total of 1,217 Ukrainian soldiers have completed their training in Spain and another 247 are being trained.

Non official translation