New Zealand Defence Force teams provide specialist skills training to Ukraine forces

Under Operation Tīeke, the NZDF’s operation to support Ukraine, up to 100 NZDF personnel at a time are deployed to the United Kingdom and Europe to deliver training, or undertake command and liaison roles at multinational headquarters.  

Personnel from land, maritime and air components deploy on Op Tīeke. 

The NZDF has been working with partners to deliver core soldiering skills in the UK and is also offering specialist skills training at locations throughout Europe. 

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Rob Krushka, said that as Ukraine’s needs had evolved, so too had the support provided by the NZDF. 

“It’s been three and a half years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the war continues. We work closely with partners to deliver expert training to Ukraine’s soldiers. Our personnel are delivering knowledge and critical warfighting skills to give AFU personnel the best chance of continuing to defend their country.”

The NZDF began training AFU recruits in 2022 as part of the United Kingdom-led multinational military operation to train and support AFU personnel, Operation Interflex.

Support has included delivery of five-week courses covering basic infantry training, “train the trainer” instruction for AFU members, and NZDF personnel also command troops from partner nations delivering training.  

NZDF medics deliver life-saving specialised training in trauma care and combat first aid to Ukrainian medics.

This year, specialised training has been provided by Royal New Zealand Navy maritime explosive ordnance experts instructing Ukrainian divers to operate in complex maritime environments and identify and counter conventional and improvised Russian explosive devices underwater.  

Land Component Commander Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg said New Zealand Army personnel were delivering highly valued specialist training in essential battlefield skills, such as combat medic training, countering explosive hazards, and sniper and marksmanship training at training locations in Europe.

“Our personnel are highly regarded for their expertise and professionalism, and the NZDF and NZ Army are rightly proud of their efforts to support Ukrainian efforts to win on the battlefield.”

A recent deployment includes New Zealand Army combat engineers, who are training AFU members in Poland alongside the Polish Armed Forces.

There, they are delivering a four-week course to between 70 and 120 AFU personnel at a time, covering essential combat engineering skills such as explosives handling and mine clearance, creation and demolition of land routes, and the skills needed to provide mobility and survivability of combat forces. 

More than 930 NZDF personnel have deployed on Op Tīeke. Approximately 75 personnel have deployed twice or more to deliver training. As part of multinational training operations, NZDF personnel have contributed to the training of tens of thousands of AFU members to enable them to survive and be lethal on the battlefield.

Read our feature on Op Tīeke or watch our exclusive Op Tīeke video series to go behind the scenes of our support to Ukraine.