Battle-Tested Ukrainians Begin Training German Troops for Future War
Ukrainian combat veterans have begun training German troops, sharing frontline experience in drone warfare and modern combat as Berlin ramps up preparations for a potential conflict with Russia.
Kyiv Post
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The first Ukrainian instructors with frontline combat experience have arrived in Germany to train Bundeswehr units, according to Lt. Gen. Christian Freuding, Inspector of the German Land Forces.
In an interview with the German newspaper Welt, Freuding said the training began before Easter at several Land Forces military schools, aiming to adapt German soldiers to the realities of modern warfare.
The Ukrainian instructors are focusing in particular on protection against drones and their effective use in combat. The German Land Forces plan to integrate these lessons into training programs for tank, mechanized, and artillery units.
Freuding emphasized that the instructors are not staff officers, but soldiers with direct, hands-on battlefield experience.
Ukrainian specialists are currently conducting training at the Tank Forces School, the Engineer Forces School, and a dedicated unmanned systems training center. Similar training is expected to expand to artillery schools in the coming days.
Germany and Ukraine agreed in February that Kyiv would send experienced personnel to German Land Forces schools to share battlefield and battlespace lessons from Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to Freuding, the first group was expected to include several dozen instructors who will spend weeks training German troops.
The suspects were stopped during a routine traffic check, where police discovered drones, trackers and fake IDs.
He said Berlin has “high expectations,” noting that the Ukrainian military is currently the only force with extensive frontline experience against Russia.
The training is focused on artillery, drone warfare, armored operations, engineering, and command-and-control systems – areas where Ukrainian forces have rapidly evolved under combat conditions.
Freuding warned that the timeline for a possible large-scale Russian attack is approaching quickly, referencing Western intelligence assessments pointing to 2029. He stressed that “that’s almost the day after tomorrow,” adding that there is no time to delay preparations.
Since 2022, Germany has trained thousands of Ukrainian soldiers on Western systems, including Leopard tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, and air defense platforms.
Freuding said Ukrainian forces have since developed advanced tactics and operations, particularly in drone use and highly digitalized, data-driven warfare.
He added that Ukraine’s role as an instructional team reflects a partnership “on an equal footing” between the two countries.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Moscow’s rearmament shows it is willing to use force to pursue geopolitical goals and weaken the alliance by dividing Europe and Canada from the United States.
The strategy combines military doctrine with long-term development plans for the Bundeswehr. It highlights ongoing hybrid threats – including cyberattacks, sabotage, disinformation, and espionage – and calls for a sustained response.
Germany aims to expand its armed forces to at least 460,000 personnel, integrating reservists and potentially reintroducing compulsory military service to build Europe’s strongest conventional force.
The plan emphasizes “information superiority,” with expanded cyber and space capabilities, as well as long-range precision strike systems inspired by lessons from Ukraine’s battlespace, particularly drone warfare.
Berlin also plans to acquire JASSM-ER cruise missiles for F-35 fighters, strengthen air defenses, and modernize military administration through digitization and AI.
However, key details remain classified to avoid exposing strategic plans.
Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.
