Czech Republic to Accept 4,000 Ukrainian Soldiers for Training
10 June, 2024 Ukrainian military at the training ground in Libava in the Czech Republic.
2023. Photo credits: seznamzpravy.cz The Czech Republic is considering holding additional exercises for the Ukrainian military.
Defense Minister Jana Cernochova stated the Czech Republic is capable of accepting 4,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Cernochova reminded that last year 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers were trained in the Czech Republic. The same number has been approved for this year.
"As soon as we receive information that a shift has been formed, we provide our training facilities and instructors," Cernochova said. At the same time, she added that the maximum number of shifts is 800 soldiers.
Jana Cernohova, Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic. Photo credits: Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Czech Republic
She also noted that the Czech Republic does not plan to send its instructors directly to Ukraine, given the geographical proximity of the military training grounds in Libava near Olomouc to Ukraine.
"There are several hundred kilometers from the Slovak-Ukrainian border to our Libava. Therefore, as for the Czech Republic, I can say that we are not planning or preparing anything like this at the moment," Cernochova summarized. Czech instructors at this training ground teach Ukrainian soldiers how to attack, transmit information, keep formation, and handle weapons.
In the Czech Republic, Ukrainians learn not only military skills, but also the most important thing: how to save lives. At the Libava training ground, the Czech Republic provides the soldiers with food, accommodation, ammunition and weapons, which they will return after graduation.
Ukrainian soldiers at the Libava training ground in the Czech Republic.
2023. Photo credits: seznamzpravy.cz
The first rotation of Ukrainian servicemen in Libava completed their training at the end of December 2022.
As previously reported, French President Emmanuel Macron wants to establish an "instructor coalition" to send Western instructors to Ukraine.