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NATO trains Ukrainian military troops in Lithuania and Poland

2024-12-22 19:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by NATO troops since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. VOA visited one of the areas where Ukrainian troops are being taught new skills by British, Canadian and Polish troops.

At this site in Poland, Ukrainian tank crews are learning from NATO soldiers how to operate German tanks. This as part of a military aid program, financed by the European Union. Ukrainian fighters are being trained by British, Canadian and Polish troops.

"We work all day using computers, training tanker after tanker. In this way, we save fuel and when the tankers actually use the vehicle, we are sure that they will avoid any mistakes, because they have learned on these computers", says Major General of the Polish Armed Forces, Piotr Fajkowski.

Working at this center near the border with Germany involves mastering all aspects related to German Leopard tanks, from driving them to repairing them. Likewise, Ukrainian tankers are trained to maneuver the vehicle at maximum speed while conducting exercises by firing on special training grounds.

Instructors say that when Ukrainian fighters leave Poland, they are fully prepared to use the tank during a real battle.

"The better the troops are trained, the more effective they are on the battlefield. We are seeing that Russia is trying so hard to organize the offensive that they don't have enough time for training. And we are seeing their losses!", says military expert Vaidotas Malionis.

Ukrainian troops are also being trained in Lithuania, a NATO member country. The two countries share a border with Belarus, an ally of Russia. These ongoing exercises have become much more intense since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022. In the last two months, new servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces have been trained here.

"Some of them have military experience, but there are also those who do not have enough experience or basic knowledge, and this course serves to train them more or less at the same level," says Olegas Magas, an instructor of the Lithuanian army.

Much of this training focuses on those soldiers who are likely to be on the front lines, teaching them to make quick decisions, to be tactically flexible, and to work easily with troops. NATO.

"The primary goal of NATO armies and NATO as a military force is to standardize all its branches, so that American troops can work with Lithuanian troops," said the Ukrainian soldier, who was not identified for security reasons.

Familiarization with NATO procedures is part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's desire for Ukraine to join the alliance. He believes that this is a way to guarantee lasting peace with Russia. But Mr. Zelenskyy has also admitted that full NATO membership is not possible as long as the war continues./VOA