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| New Zealand Sends 120 Troops to Britain to Train 800 Ukrainian Soldiers |
Wellington - New Zealand is sending 120 military personnel to the UK to help train Ukrainians in frontline combat. The news was revealed by the New Zealand government on Monday (15/8/2022).
The deployment will allow two infantry training teams to equip Ukrainian personnel with core skills to be effective in combat, including weapons handling, battle first aid, operational law and other skills.
The New Zealand government said "The training of around 800 Ukrainian troops will be conducted exclusively at one of four locations in the UK, and New Zealand defense personnel will not travel to Ukraine."
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a news conference "We have made it clear that this blatant attack on the sovereignty of a country and the subsequent loss of innocent lives is wrong and cannot be tolerated. Our condemnation will continue to extend beyond words and include critical support."
He stressed that New Zealand troops have not and will not engage in fighting in Ukraine. Thirty New Zealand defense personnel completed a deployment in May to train Ukrainian military personnel in operating artillery.
The training deployment is part of a series of actions in response to Russia's February 24 invasion of its southern neighbour. New Zealand has provided more than $25.70 million in financial support and sanctions against 840 Russian individuals and entities. Russia has called its intervention in Ukraine a "special operation" to demilitarize its neighbour.