Spain Now One of Europe’s Largest Training Grounds for Ukrainian Soldiers

Spain has now trained more than 9,000 Ukrainian service members under the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, marking a new milestone in one of Europe’s largest long-running military training efforts, according to the Spanish Defence Staff on May 12.

The EU-led training mission, known as EUMAM Ukraine, was launched in late 2022 to strengthen the combat capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces amid the Russian war against Ukraine.

During the first months of 2026 alone, Spanish military units operating under the Toledo Training Coordination Centre expanded instruction programs for Ukrainian troops across a wide range of specialties.

The latest training cycles included advanced military topography, military police operations, armored recovery vehicle courses, and a second round of Leopard 2A4 combat vehicle maintenance and operational training.

According to Spanish defense officials, Spain trained around 8,000 Ukrainian troops during 2025 through more than 185 training modules and 30 specialties. That program has now expanded to over 230 modules covering 40 specialties.

Training is being conducted not only by the Spanish Armed Forces but also with support from the Guardia Civil, which previously participated in international training operations in countries including Iraq, Mali, and Somalia.

The broader military partnership between Spain and Ukraine has also continued to deepen politically and financially.

Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain would provide Ukraine with a new $1 billion military aid package in 2026.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW