French Military Trains Ukrainian Troops in Poland Under EU Mission
French military officials have provided new insights into how their armed forces are training Ukrainian soldiers at a military base in western Poland, as part of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM-UA). The training takes place near the German border and is tailored to meet the evolving needs of Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Ukrinform.
In an exclusive comment to Ukrainian media, a representative of the French General Staff explained that the current training module emphasizes specialized combat skills such as sniping, operations in difficult terrain, infantry reconnaissance, mortar firing, and artillery targeting.
“We structure the training according to the operational needs of the Ukrainian army. A significant portion of the instruction here focuses on precision and tactical resilience,” the official stated.
Another critical aspect of the program includes preparing Ukrainian instructors in light infantry weapons, enabling them to pass on their expertise back home. A separate leadership course for Ukrainian commanders was recently completed at the same facility.
“Our ultimate goal is to empower Ukrainian instructors who can then replicate this training domestically,” the General Staff representative emphasized.
Training cycles typically last from three to seven weeks, culminating in evaluations to certify the acquired skills. On average, 250 French military personnel are deployed in Poland for this mission, and since 2023, they have helped train 12 Ukrainian battalions.
The French contingent works in close coordination with Polish forces, who are responsible for the site’s infrastructure. Training grounds are equipped with trenches, buildings, and fortified positions that mimic the terrain of active combat zones in Ukraine. Poland also provides logistics and oversees the training schedule.
EUMAM-UA, launched in October 2022, now includes 24 participating EU countries. Over 75,000 Ukrainian service members have undergone training through the mission by the end of 2024.
In November last year, the EU Council extended the mission's mandate by two more years and allocated €409 million for its continued operation.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Union has already collected 2/3 of the resources needed to implement the initiative to supply Ukraine with 2 million shells, which should arrive in Ukraine as soon as possible.