Estonia will join the Operation Interflex for the training of Ukrainian military

29 January, 2024 Estonian and Ukrainian soldiers on training, March 2023. Source: EDF Estonia will begin training Ukrainian recruits under the international Operation Interflex.

The news was published by the official website of the Estonian Ministry of Defense. At a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced Estonia's decision to join the British-led Operation Interflex. "In addition to a constant influx of weapons and ammunition, Ukraine needs the ongoing support of Western countries in training new and additional armed forces personnel in this war, as it transforms into a protracted conflict.

That is why Estonia has decided to join Operation Interflex, in which instructors from our own Defence Forces will soon be training Ukrainian soldiers in the United Kingdom," said Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur. Pevkur also called on other countries to allocate 0.25% of their GDP for long-term supporting Ukraine, noting that Estonia has already decided to do so.

Operation Interflex

Operation Interflex remains the largest international training program for Ukrainian recruits. It is attended by 12 countries of the world, in particular, the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, as well as Australia and Canada.

As part of the program, Estonian instructors will conduct basic training for military personnel of Armed Forces of Ukraine in the UK. "Estonia's contribution will mark the 12th nation to lend its support to the UK's programme, which has already provided more than 34,000 Ukrainian recruits with essential frontline combat skills," said UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. The country also continues to participate in the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) in supporting Ukraine by conducting specialized courses for the Ukrainian military in Estonia.

Military and technical cooperation

It is worth recalling that this month the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Association of Defense and Aerospace Industry of Estonia signed a cooperation agreement.

Until now, cooperation with Ukraine has taken place directly with units or through international partners.

The new agreement gives the Estonian defense industry direct access to Ukrainian state institutions, strengthening bilateral relations.

Photo credits: Defense and Aerospace Industry Association of Estonia

Earlier, the Estonian company Milrem Robotics has already signed an agreement with Ukroboronprom on the joint development of new generation ground-based robotic defense systems.