Ceremony marking the Spanish transfer of authority in the European Union military assistance mission to Ukraine

•  The “Aragón I” Brigade takes over from the “Rey Alfonso XIII” Brigade, II of the Legion, in its duties at the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC) Headquarters until June 2026

The “Aragón I” Brigade has relieved the “Rey Alfonso XIII” Brigade, II of the Legion, in the European Union's military assistance mission to Ukraine in a ceremony to transfer Spanish authority held at the “Diego Porcelos” barracks in Burgos, headquarters of the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC).

This handover between the EUMAM UA VI and VII contingents was presided over by the Commander of Operations, Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez, who highlighted the difficulty of predicting the evolution of modern conflicts, noting the exemplary resistance of the Ukrainian people in the face of an enemy that is apparently far superior in numbers and equipment.

He also referred to the important role played by Europe. ‘Ukraine is the spearhead, providing blood, sweat and tears, and Europe supports it with all the assistance it can give.’

Finally, he addressed the incoming contingent, reminding them that ‘the training you provide saves Ukrainian lives and improves their combat capabilities. The defence of Ukraine, and therefore of Europe and Spain, depends on it.’

During the ceremony, the head of the outgoing contingent, Brigadier General José Agustín Carreras Postigo, handed over the mission script to the head of the incoming contingent, Brigadier Francisco Javier Calero Perea.

Brigadier Calero Perea took the opportunity to thank Brigadier Agustín Carreras for the excellent handover. He then recalled that ‘this is not a new mission for the “Aragón I” Brigade, as it already took on the task in the second half of 2023, in EUMAM UA-II’.

Finally, he addressed Lieutenant General Agüero Martínez, speaking on behalf of the entire contingent. ‘General, our mission is clear. Under your command, I will direct and coordinate activities in support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Security Forces, and we will do so in accordance with our motto: There is nothing to fear in the shadow of the Royal Standard, because we fear nothing and no one!’

For six months, the TTCC Headquarters of EUMAM VI of the “King Alfonso XIII” II Brigade of the Legion has contributed to the mission by training some 700 Ukrainian military personnel out of the more than 8,500 who have been trained by the Spanish Armed Forces since the mission began in November 2022. The EUMAM UA VI contingent has coordinated and carried out more than 20 modules in different specialities, including Basic Combat Training, Operations Planning, Counter-Terrorism, Urban Combat, Demining, and Medical Care for Combat Casualties. It should be noted that, during this rotation, Hyperbaric Medicine modules have been taught for the first time.

Over the next six months, the EUMAM VII TTCC Headquarters of the “Aragón I” Brigade will continue to deliver training on some of the modules already taught by previous rotations and coordinate others that provide new capabilities, according to the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.