150 Ukrainian medics to be trained by British Army on new courses
About 150 Ukrainian military medics are to learn lifesaving battlefield skills from the British Army as part of new five-week training courses.
Current and new Ukrainian medics are learning techniques such as how to provide medical care under fire, controlling heavy blood loss, and giving crucial pre-hospital care.
The announcement comes as Ukraine continues its counter-offensive against the invading Russian forces.
Forty-nine Ukrainians are currently undergoing the first of three combat medical training programmes – each training about 50 Ukrainian personnel.
Course director Captain Phil Williams of 2nd Medical Brigade said the Ukrainian medics are "an absolute pleasure to teach" and that the British Army is also learning from them.
"We have a top-class team of medical instructors, and we are all humbled and proud at having a part to play in helping Ukraine liberate their homeland from this illegal invasion," he said.
"The Ukrainian students are keen to learn and absolutely dedicated to gaining as many skills as they can before returning home to save life.
"The vast majority have been actively involved on the battlefield and many carry the wounds of war. They are an absolute pleasure to teach, and such is the nature of their recent experience, we learn as much from them as they do from us."
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) says the training is the first combat medical course of its kind to be delivered by the British Army and its international partners.
Instructors from the Netherlands and Iceland are helping to deliver the training alongside the Army.
The first course began on 29 May and evidence from the battlefield and requests from Ukrainian personnel have been incorporated into the training, the MOD said.
Ukrainian trainee Viktor said: "This course is very useful and I want to keep learning as much as I can. All the instructors are very helpful and knowledgeable, even for those without any experience.
"It's a lot of practice and I feel better equipped now to take this knowledge back to Ukraine. It will not be easy, but we are counterattacking now and we will win."
The Ukrainian students will put their learnings to the test in battlefield scenarios, including extracting casualties under fire and triaging mass casualties.
They will also learn how to teach vital battlefield first aid to other members of the Ukrainian armed forces when they return to the frontline.
So far, the UK and its allies have trained more than 17,000 Ukrainian military personnel.
The UK has provided £4.5bn worth of military aid to Ukraine, including more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, air defence systems and Challenger 2 tanks.
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