{"id":2572,"date":"2023-12-10T22:15:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T21:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpressgau.4lima.de\/?p=2572"},"modified":"2025-03-20T23:50:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T22:50:30","slug":"germany-ukrainian-special-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deaidua.org\/news\/2023\/12\/10\/germany-ukrainian-special-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"How Germany is strengthening the Ukrainian special forces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Direct combat, special reconnaissance, intelligence gathering or sabotage. The Ukrainian special forces are being deployed across a broad spectrum in the current defence fight against the Russian armed forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They carry out offensive and stealth operations, on the front line and in high-risk situations. It is only logical that well-equipped, intensively trained and experienced soldiers are deployed for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany and other countries have been training and equipping Ukrainian special forces since last year to ensure that this was also the case during wartimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training of Ukrainian special forces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Germany began training Ukrainian special forces last year, although no details were given at the time. At least 50 special forces were trained during the last year by the Bundeswehr. According to my research, no new figures have been published since then, even though training has continued.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Source: bundesregierung.de<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Unfortunately, in 2023 the German government hardly published any precise figures on the training of Ukrainian soldiers in or by Germany. Especially regarding special forces, the discretion is at least somewhat understandable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, an article published<\/a> on the Bundeswehr website in December 2023 reveals a few new details. The training is done by the German KSK (Kommando Spezialkr\u00e4fte), or in English, the Special Forces Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of the training is to enable the Ukrainian soldiers trained in Germany to continue training special forces in Ukraine themselves. The focus is on tactical land mobility and the combat of one or more commandos in urbanised terrain, known as \u201cclose quarter battle\u201d in military jargon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first days of training are dominated by instruction and basic training. All training material, in particular multiple weapons and different vehicles, must be safely mastered by the Ukrainian soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several pictures of the firearms training \u2014 issued by the Bundeswehr \u2014 have been published. I had an interesting conversation about this with Matthew Moss<\/a> from \u201cThe Armourer\u2019s Bench\u201d, a weapons expert with a current focus on the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Firearms\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Training with the MG3 and MG5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Firearms\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Training with the Haenel MK556<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Firearms\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Training with the Haenel MK556<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Images: Bundeswehr\/KSK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to him, the Ukrainian soldiers are not only training with the MG3, which has been in service with the AFU for a long time now, and with the MG5, which has been delivered to Ukraine in early August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are also being trained on the Haenel MK556, which was supposed to replace the G36 in the Bundeswehr before Haenel \u2014 due to more or less proven patent infringements \u2014 was excluded from the process by the German Ministry of Defence and the production of the rifle for the Bundeswehr was stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the 4th of January \u2014 several weeks after this article was published \u2014 5,000 of these rifles were actually promised to Ukraine. Of these, 305 have already been delivered. However, the number of firearms pledged is too large to be used only in Ukrainian special units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will go into more detail later on Germany’s support for the Ukrainian special forces with equipment, weapons, and vehicles. Let’s get back to the training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick action adapted to the situation, improvisation, and leadership are practised again and again. The German head of training made the following statement about the Ukrainian soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe Ukrainian soldiers are highly motivated, very willing to learn and hungry for knowledge. A good level of training was achieved both in close combat and urban combat, as well as in the training specialisms of tactical mobility and shooting.\u201d<\/p>\nHead of Training Lieutenant Colonel T. via bundeswehr.de<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Highly motivated, very willing to learn and hungry for knowledge. We keep hearing statements like this about the Ukrainian soldiers who are being trained in the West by their partners \u2014 and not just by Germany. The motivation of the soldiers \u2014 fuelled by the war crimes that Russia commits every day in Ukraine \u2014 remains high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equipment for Ukrainian special forces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Already back in October, the Ukrainian special forces received a some media attention in Germany. The reason for this is an assistance package worth 20 million euros, which the German Ministry of Defence made public in a press release<\/a> in mid-October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vehicles, weapons and personal equipment are to be supplied. The intention is to make the Ukrainian special forces \u201ceven more powerful\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, more and more details of the assistance package were published. For example, the German magazine \u201ccpm Defence Network\u201d reported<\/a> two months ago that it had been learned from well-informed sources that 50 E-Bike EMUs are part of the package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"E-Bike\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
E-Bike EMU<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Camouflaged\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Camouflaged E-Bike EMU (not in Ukraine)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Images: ACS Armoured Car Systems<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The electric engine of these motorbikes is almost completely maintenance-free and noiseless. The E-Bike EMU has a range of 60 km per battery charge. The battery can be changed within seconds. Perfect for special forces, who need to move quickly and quietly in off-road terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the delivery of the vehicles has not yet been confirmed. What has been confirmed, however, is that Rheinmetall will deliver five Caracal airmobile platforms to Ukraine. The company made this public in a press release on the 14th of November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Rheinmetall spokesperson confirmed to me that the German government pays for these vehicles and therefore will cover the costs of production, training, and delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first vehicles will be delivered to Ukraine until the end of 2023. The rest will follow at the beginning of 2024. The Caracal is a 4×4 mobile platform specially designed to meet the needs of airmobile formations and special operations forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany and the Netherlands have signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall for up to 3,058 Caracals worth up to 1.9 billion euros. The first testing vehicles will be delivered in early 2024. Ukraine will therefore be the first user of these vehicles \u2014 worldwide. Even before the Bundeswehr receives its testing vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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