Over 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel trained in Spain

•  Since 2022, EUMAM UA has delivered over 230 training modules across some 40 different specialities

The EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA) has trained 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel on Spanish soil since the operation began in November 2022. During this time, more than 230 training modules across some 40 different specialities have been delivered.

The courses are held throughout Spain and are delivered by various units of the Armed Forces. Furthermore, in some cases, they have benefited from the collaboration of the Guardia Civil. Since early 2026, training has moved to a higher level: basic training has taken a back seat to make way for more technical and specific instruction.

In this context, during the first quarter of 2026, modules on advanced military surveying, military police and armoured recovery vehicles, amongst others, were delivered for the first time. Furthermore, the second course on maintenance and crew training for the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank was delivered, the first edition of which took place at the start of the mission.

In the same vein, there are various modules that have been repeated on more than ten occasions — and are still being planned — such as those relating to military planning, air defence systems (such as the HAWK missile), the TOA M113 vehicle, and geographic data management and georeferencing systems.

In the words of the mission’s deputy head, Colonel Victor Amalio Samaniego Palacios, ‘the EUMAM operation continues to place high demands on our personnel and requires a great deal of flexibility. In order to provide training that is as rigorous as possible and tailored to the target audience, we are engaged in ongoing coordination with Ukrainian armed forces personnel to ensure we can achieve this objective’.

As a result of this training requirement, a wide variety of modules are delivered, covering various fields beyond purely operational ones, ranging from International Humanitarian Law to the safe handling of munitions.

Now, as we approach the halfway point of the fifth year of the conflict, the EUMAM UA operation in Spain reaches this milestone, reaffirming the ongoing commitment of Spain and the European Union to the defence and sovereignty of Ukraine.

EUMAM UA, support for Ukraine

The EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was approved by a Council Decision on 17 October 2022. Its aim is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

EUMAM works closely with all other like-minded international partners to provide training support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Furthermore, EUMAM is open to the participation of third states. All mission activities take place on EU territory. To date, 24 EU Member States — notably including Spain — have provided training modules and personnel to the Ukrainian military.

In Spain, training activities are led by the Toledo Training Coordination Centre (TTCC)—under the direction of the Operations Command, to which it reports—and coordinates its activities with various international structures, not only within the European Union but also under the framework of multinational agreements. Since the start of this European mission, Spain has expanded the range of courses, which are now delivered across various units of the Spanish Armed Forces.

The TTCC comprises a Headquarters in Burgos — headed by Brigadier General Francisco Javier Calero Perea, commander of the 1st ‘Aragón’ Brigade—to which the Combat Training Unit (UFC) in Toledo (a permanent unit that provides both basic training and various specific courses) and the Training Modules (TM) report; the latter are activated to deliver instruction in the specialities requested.

The Spanish Armed Forces have extensive experience in training missions for the armed forces and security forces of other countries, such as Iraq, Mali and Somalia, amongst others. To date, within the framework of this EUMAM UA mission, Spain has trained more than 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel, and work is ongoing to continue this effort.