Ukrainian soldiers awarded certificates after training in Belgian navy
Defence minister Ludivine Dedonder presented certificates to 10 Ukrainian soldiers who will complete their training at the Naval Academy in Ostend this week. They have spent part of their training there in minehunting.
Over the past few weeks, the soldiers have undergone operational training and learned how to plan a mission, hunt for mines and use the resources on board the minehunters.
During a short ceremony on Thursday morning, the soldiers received their training certificates from Dedonder. "I will propose to the Council of Ministers that we donate a Belgian minehunter to the Ukrainian Navy", she said. "Good luck with your further training. Belgian Defence will continue to support Ukraine."
Belgian Defence has already trained more than 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers in various fields. This ranges from mine clearance on land and at sea, to first aid on the battlefield, to learning how to work with the military equipment that Defence has donated to Ukraine.
In the coming weeks, some 50 Ukrainians will be trained as F-16 technicians in Belgium in cooperation with the Belgian aviation industry. In addition, Defence will send two F-16 trainer aircraft and a detachment of around 50 soldiers to Denmark in 2024 to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots, technicians and other support personnel.
© BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
Related news
