Expansion of successful training program for Ukrainian military supported by Swedish Government.

In 2024, the Swedish Government granted the Swedish Armed Forces an expanded mandate to continue and enhance their military training efforts for Ukrainian citizens. Building upon the appreciated support provided thus far, Ukraine welcomes the extension of ongoing training activities, with opportunities to augment previous initiatives.
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Sweden is already an important supplier of military equipment to the Ukrainian army (Picture source: Swedish MoD)

Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson expressed: "Sweden's invaluable training assistance has been warmly received by Ukraine. Nevertheless, there remains a pressing need for further training endeavors, particularly in maritime domains. With this mandate, the Swedish Armed Forces can strategically plan training endeavors for the entire year, thereby mitigating any adverse impact on the development of Swedish military capabilities."

This framework mandate enhances the Swedish Armed Forces' capacity to proactively schedule yearly activities and promptly address urgent Ukrainian training requirements as they arise.

Furthermore, this decision enables the Armed Forces to deliver training bilaterally or multilaterally, whether conducted in Sweden or another EU or NATO member state. Additionally, it encompasses Ukrainian units' access to Swedish territory.

The training program's contents draw from experiences in 2023 and evaluations of new training needs arising from recently established capability coalitions within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group framework. It is anticipated that over 18,000 Ukrainian students will participate in training activities involving Swedish instructors in 2024.

Sweden's ongoing training engagements, including those within the EU Military Assistance Mission supporting Ukraine, health care and infantry training, the Northern European-Lithuanian Minesweeper Training Initiative, mine clearance activities in Lithuania, and participation in Operation Interflex in the United Kingdom, will persist and can now be supplemented.

The following training activities may become pertinent under this expanded program:
• Training on military equipment donated by Sweden.
• Participation in various multilateral training activities akin to Interflex or Interforge, focusing on amphibious warfare.
• Training within capability coalitions Sweden is part of, such as maritime education covering amphibious combat techniques, underwater mine clearance within the International Maritime Security Coalition framework, or participation in land mine clearance training under the Demining Coalition for Ukraine.
• Leadership training, with Swedish instructors conducting courses for prospective group or platoon leaders, along with tactical training for staff officers.

Defense News February 2024