Estonia will commence the training of Ukrainian recruits as part of the international Interflex programme, according to an announcement on the official website of the Estonian Ministry of Defense.
During a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Matters in Ramstein, the Minister of Defense of Estonia, Hannes Hanso, declared Estonia's decision to join the Interflex operation, led by the United Kingdom.
"In addition to the continuous supply of weapons and ammunition, Ukraine needs ongoing support from Western countries in training new and additional personnel for the armed forces in this prolonged conflict. Therefore, Estonia has decided to join the Interflex operation, under which our own Defense Forces instructors will soon train Ukrainian military personnel in the United Kingdom," stated Defense Minister Hannes Hanso.
Hanso also urged other countries to allocate 0.25% of their GDP for long-term support to Ukraine, mentioning that Estonia has already decided to do so.
Interflex remains the largest international programme for the training of Ukrainian recruits, involving 12 countries worldwide, including Scandinavian and Baltic countries, as well as Australia and Canada.
Within the programme, Estonian instructors will conduct basic training for members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the United Kingdom.
"Estonia's contribution will mark the 12th country supporting the UK programme, which has already provided over 34,000 Ukrainian recruits with essential combat skills on the frontline," said the Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom, Grant Shapps.
The country also continues to participate in the European Union Military Advisory Mission (EUMAM) in support of Ukraine by conducting specialized courses for Ukrainian military personnel in Estonia.
