The Spanish Armed Forces have trained more than 8,500 Ukrainian military personnel as part of the European Union's military assistance mission

• Since the mission began in November 2022, more than 200 modules have been taught in Spain in some 33 specialties

 The Spanish Armed Forces, as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA), have trained more than 8,500 Ukrainian military personnel in our country since November 2022. In total, more than 200 modules covering some 33 different specialties have been taught, demonstrating Spain's firm commitment to the security and protection of Ukraine through the training of its military personnel in a wide variety of centers and locations throughout the country.

The courses are organized to complement the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the content is very diverse: from basic combat training courses (Basic Recruit) to more specific courses such as Close Air Support, Combat Engineer, and Humanitarian Demining. Training is also provided in international humanitarian law, geospatial data production, hyperbaric medicine, and Black Hornet UAVs, among other subjects.

All this training is managed through the Toledo Training Coordination Center (TTCC) Headquarters—which operates under the direction of the Operations Command, to which it reports—whose operational chain coordinates the various training modules, from programming to completion.

Regarding this national effort, the Chief of Staff of EUMAM UA in Spain, Lieutenant Colonel Juan José López, emphasizes that “Spain's contribution to this mission accounts for 10% of the total Ukrainian personnel trained, which demonstrates the seriousness with which Spain approaches its international commitments.” In all training activities, Spanish military instructors put a great deal of effort and dedication into carrying out their tasks, “with the aim of providing the best possible training to Ukrainian military personnel, who are demonstrating exemplary motivation and professionalism in order to be an effective tool in the service of defending their homeland.”

Nearly four years after the start of the conflict, Operation EUMAM-UA in Spain—under the leadership of the TTCC—has reached this milestone, which highlights the ongoing commitment of Spain and the European Union to the defense and sovereignty of Ukraine.

EUMAM UA, support for Ukraine

The EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was approved by Council Decision on October 17, 2022. Its objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and to deter and respond to possible future military offensives by Russia and other potential aggressors. EUMAM works closely with all other like-minded international partners to provide training support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

EUMAM is also open to the participation of third countries. All mission activities are carried out on EU soil. To date, 24 EU member states—including, notably, Spain—have offered training modules and personnel to Ukrainian military personnel.

In Spain, training activities are led by the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC), which coordinates its activities with different international structures, not only within the European Union, but also within the framework of multinational agreements. Since the beginning of this European mission, Spain has expanded the range of courses, which are now taught in different units of the Spanish Armed Forces.

The TTCC consists of a headquarters in Burgos, headed by Brigadier General José Agustín Carreras Postigo, commander of the Legion's “Rey Alfonso XIII” Brigade II of the Legion. This center oversees the Combat Training Unit (UFC) in Toledo—a permanent unit that provides both basic training and various specific courses—and the Training Modules, which are activated to provide instruction in the specialties requested. These courses are held at the facilities of the Ministry of Defense, the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Civil Guard in various locations throughout Spain.