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| Australia Plans to Send Troops to Britain to Train Ukrainian Soldiers |
Canberra - Australian troops will be deployed to the UK to train Ukrainian troops. This move is to help strengthen the defenses of eastern European countries against Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion. A contingent of 70 Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel will join the UK-led multinational training effort, known as Operation INTEFLEX.
They will join right after Christmas, but will not enter Ukraine. The commitment is part of the second support package announced by the Australian government, which includes an additional 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles.
"Australia has been resolute in its bipartisan support for Ukraine and its condemnation of President Putin," said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "We will continue to defend freedom and democracy," he added. "It's not just about Ukraine's sovereignty; the brave people of Ukraine stand up for international laws, rules and norms," Albanese continued. He said the Australian government would not set an exact date for the deployment of the ADF on "operational security" grounds, but expected the personnel to arrive in the UK sometime in January.
"Our soldiers will be part of a major training program in the UK to help prepare their Ukrainian partners for their fight against Russia's unwarranted and unlawful aggression," Defense Secretary Richard Marles said.
"Since their arrival, the Bushmasters have been widely used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with more requests from the President of Ukraine, the Minister of Defense and the Ambassador," added Marles.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba later thanked Australia for its support in a tweet. The federal budget this week allocated more than $200 million in additional aid to Ukraine, including $185.6 million in Defense aid delivered from within existing resources. Australia's total financial support for Ukraine now stands at $655 million, including $475 million in military aid to the war-torn country.