Up to 70 Australian soldiers will travel to the United Kingdom in coming days to begin training Ukrainian troops in the fight against Russia.
The Australian Defence Force personnel will be farewelled at a ceremony in Darwin before joining the British-led Operation Interflex, which aims to train 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year.
Defence Minister Richard Marles told Today this morning the Australian military trainers will play a vital role and help Ukraine “stay in the fight” against Russia.
“We need to be ready and willing, which we are, to stand with Ukraine over the long term. This is an important step in doing that.”
He said the Australian instructors would help train Ukraine’s military, which is largely composed of reservists.
“I think people need to understand that those who are fighting in Ukraine now, it’s a reservist force.
“They’re citizen solders, giving up every day jobs in order to fight for their country. The heart is very much there, but this training is going to be so important for them to equip them for the battlefield.”
As part of their preparation for the training mission, the Australian soldiers have familiarised themselves with the AK-47 assault rifle, the main weapon used by Ukraine’s army in combat.
Operation Interflex has been running since last July. Australian military trainers over will join others from other western nations including New Zealand, Canada and the Netherlands.
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UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said Operation Interflex will train an additional 20,000 recruits this year.
He told the British House of Commons the UK was grateful for Australia’s support and stressed training Ukrainian troops should not be considered an act of aggression against Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s first lady overnight pressed world leaders and corporate executives at the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, to do more to help her country at a time when Russia’s invasion is leaving children dying and the world struggling with food insecurity.
As the anniversary of the war nears, Olena Zelenska said parents in Ukraine are in tears watching doctors trying to save their children, farmers are afraid to return to their fields filled with mines.
She said “we cannot allow a new Chernobyl to happen,” referring to the 1986 nuclear disaster as Russian missiles have pounded Ukrainian energy infrastructure for months.
– Reported with Associated Press
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