The total number of New Zealand officers engaged in training programs for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will exceed 150
SYDNEY, August 15. /tass/. The New Zealand authorities will send 120 military personnel to train soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was announced on Monday by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
"New Zealand will continue to respond to Ukraine's requests for practical support of its people who defend their homeland. We are sending 120 servicemen of the New Zealand armed Forces who will train the AFU recruits in the UK," the Prime Minister said, noting that "one of the highest priorities of Ukraine is the training of soldiers."
In her statement published on the government's website, Ardern noted that taking into account the New Zealand Defense Ministry soldiers sent to the UK in May, the total number of New Zealand officers engaged in training programs for AFU soldiers will exceed 150 people. "This is part of our assistance to Ukraine, which also includes financial support in the amount of more than 40 million New Zealand dollars ($25.7 million) and restrictive sanctions imposed on 840 Russian individuals and legal entities," the Prime Minister stressed.
It is planned that the additional New Zealand Defense Ministry personnel sent will train Ukrainian infantrymen in "the basic skills necessary for effective combat operations on the front line, including handling weapons and first aid in combat." Separately, it is noted that New Zealand servicemen will be engaged exclusively in training programs in the UK and will not be deployed on the territory of Ukraine.
According to New Zealand Defense Minister Peni Henare, participation in training programs for AFU soldiers will be a valuable experience for New Zealand servicemen and will allow them to hone "their own skills of conducting operations in unfamiliar terrain and maintain combat capability." He also noted that the personnel of the Ministry of Defense will be sent to the UK by November 30 and during their work will take part in the training of 10 thousand Ukrainians.
