Liaison officers: key elements of Spanish support for Ukraine

On Europe's eastern flank, Spanish military personnel stationed in Poland channel material, operational and humanitarian aid between Spain and Ukraine

The Spanish liaison officers deployed in the town of Rzeszów, Poland, as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA), act as a link between the Defence Staff and the various national and international actors to ensure that both material and personnel assistance reaches efficiently and safely the operational environment from Spain.

This operation is a central element in the logistics and operational chain of Spanish support to Ukraine. Their work enables the real-time coordination of the shipment and receipt of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, medical supplies and specific equipment, as well as the rotation of military personnel involved in training tasks inside and outside the country.

In addition, EUMAM UA liaison officers provide assistance to Ukrainian families affected by the conflict and collaborate with civilian agencies to channel humanitarian aid and facilitate dialogue between Ukrainian authorities and European operational structures present in the area. Many of these families, forcibly displaced from their homes, find in such multinational environment a key contact point for obtaining essential assistance and a safe space to reunite with their beloved people.

In Spain, the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC), under the command of the Operations Command (MOPS in Spanish), to which it is organically linked, leads training activities on national territory and coordinates its activities with different international operational structures, both within the European Union and within the framework of multinational agreements.

Since the start of this mission, Spain has expanded the range of training courses, currently provided by different units of the Spanish Armed Forces to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Cooperation between the Spanish TTCC and the officers deployed on the eastern flank is constant, as the latter report emerging needs on the ground, evaluate the outcomes of the training and identify new priority capabilities that require further attention.

Spain has taken on a leading role in the operation, not only for becoming the host nation of the TTCC, but also for the volume and quality of the support provided to Ukraine. Within this context, liaison officers stand out as the apex that connects political will, military planning and action on the ground. Their role is even more relevant in the event of a threat, as they have demonstrated their ability to interfere with the logistic system, disrupt supply routes and attack key civilian and military infrastructure.

The humanitarian aid that Spain channels through these liaison officers is transported by railway ̶ in carefully planned convoys that cross Europe ̶ , by ship  ̶ from national ports to safe unloading points ̶ , by air  ̶ when the urgency of the material requires it ̶ , and by road, using established routes that connect advanced logistics bases with training or reception areas. Each means of transport is integrated into a complex, efficient logistic network that guarantees a constant and reliable flux of support to Ukrainian forces. 

Through EUMAM Ukraine, Spain demonstrates its firm commitment to defending international law, the sovereignty of the people and the stability of Europe.