Stop enemy attack, launch attack, learn how to operate the Javelin launcher and first aid rules on the battlefield – so Ukrainian soldiers as part of the EU mission prepare to operate on the front. We had a uncommon chance to take a closer look at the training.
Twenty years, painted nails, a helmet on his head, and a firearm in his hands. He walks among soldiers camping, occasionally exchanging 2 words with them. Daria has the rank of lieutenant and is simply a deputy commander of 1 of the Ukrainian companies. "Solid company", nods the commander himself and adds that women in the Ukrainian army are not so uncommon again. There are respective 1000 of them on the front line.
Meanwhile, we're moving into the woods. In the company of Polish instructors, we go to see how the camp was secured. We pass another masked position, from which soldiers observe the close road and writhing among the trees of paths. Thanks to them, soldiers on the field have a minute of peace to eat dinner, gather their thoughts, and... prepare for their waiting attack.
Company in attack
Ukrainians practice on 1 of the grounds of Western Poland. The training itself was organised by CAT-C – 1 of the 2 commanders EUMAM Ukraine mission (EU Military Assistance Mission). Its office is in Żagań. – The mission took off in October 2022. So far only in Poland we have trained more than 13,000 soldiers – says Major Artur Pinkowski, CAT-C spokesman. Among them were tankers, anti-aircraft, Bombers, Mechanized infantry soldiers or specialists from Field medicine. any were novices, just getting to know military crafts, another reservists who had to remember a small bit, yet others with experience on the front who came to the West to learn fresh procedures and equipment for themselves. – We train specialists, but besides full formations to the battalion level. We play teams, platoons, companies. This is done by instructors from nearly 20 countries of the European Union, in cooperation with Ukrainian Army instructors," explains Major Pinkowski.
We came to the field to see the training of the mechanized battalion, which consists of soldiers just incarnate into the army. And it is 1 of his companies that is now stationed on a mid-forest field. The first time we saw her was yesterday. From the hill we observed open space and trenches. At the same time, the silence of the afternoon interrupted the engine roar. From the close forest there were combat infantry wagons that took positions a fewer 100 meters from us. Soldiers who died in anticipation fell out of the vehicles. erstwhile the signal came from the commander, the air was crawling with bullets. The BWP cannons fired at the wrecks standing in the distance, infantrymen to automatically lift shields. The company commander, who directed the fire from his command car, was watching over the full thing. He continued to find who should shoot at any time in order to most effectively hurt his opponent. A fewer twelve minutes later, soldiers were loosened by their colleagues from another company.
– present we are checking how individual sub-groups are doing in defence – explained the officer, CAT-C teacher (at CAT-C's request we do not give names). – This component has been practiced before, but without the usage of sharp ammunition. We've been dropping off another jobs for the company. Soldiers, going into position, fell into an ambush prepared by their opponent and had to get out of it. On the way of the march we besides placed attraps of improvised explosives...', the officer says. And so, step by step, the Ukrainians have gone to real shootings.
According to the scenario, the opponent's attack managed to stop. Now it is time to bring out the counterattack and that is what soldiers gathered in the field will do. – We are in the starting area. Before the company goes into combat, its commander must check the condition of the vehicles, check whether all soldiers have weapons, adequate amounts of ammunition, how they execute the individual commands, whether the means of communication are functional. In a word, look at a full array of trifles, which may prove to be highly crucial during the battle," the teacher emphasizes.
A twelve minutes later, the BWPs, standing in the shade of the trees, start the engines and then turn around and form a column. Soldiers jump into them, and vehicles fly up the mountain. They'll be on the decision soon. We're going out into the open. In the distance, all you can see is simply a pile of dust rising from below the caterpillars. – We don’t have much time, so we effort to usage it as best we can – 1 of the instructors throws.
Grey Dots
I sit on the chair, I put my hands on the counter, I put binoculars in my eyes. On the next table a row of tiny figures. I know they depict Russian tanks, rocket launchers, armored transporters. They stand before me, and each 1 has been accurately described. Now I'm trying to name the ones I see through binoculars, but it's not that simple. They're just grey dots to me... But soldiers gotta deal with this problem. – For the operator Javelin system fast recognition of the mark is simply a fundamental thing – emphasizes another CAT-C instructor, who trains with the handling of U.S. anti-tank launchers. – First of all, the soldier must be certain that he shoots his opponent's vehicle. Furthermore, he should decently measure the value of the objective. The bullet costs a lot. It is not worth directing it against the truck, but against the tank, which can origin us considerable losses – as much as possible – added the soldier.
Ukrainians identify vehicles utilizing an innovative yet highly simple idea. These figures depict Russian equipment on a scale of 1:285. The tables divide 5 m. The binoculars were adjusted so that this distance translates into 1,300 m in the field. So, in fact, although we sit under the roof, the situation has a large dose of realism.
Meanwhile, we decision on. At the another end of the room, future Javelin operators practice on simulators. There is simply a monitor on the rise, after which the bright form moves. “See the tank?”, the teacher turns to the soldier who sits on the floor, wielding a large tube on his shoulder. "Well, that's easy now." The soldier slow moves the tube to the right and then up. On the screen there is simply a bright rectangle that touches the body of the vehicle. “Now!”, the teacher calls, and the soldier pulls the trigger. Unfortunately, he misses. The second time is the same. Only the 3rd effort turns out to be successful.
Ukrainians besides train shooting outside. 3 soldiers stick their faces to rectangular lens boxes. It is simply a CLU (Command Launch Unit), or launcher control unit. It allows you to recognize, estimation the distance to the target, look at its individual elements. And then strap the case to the launcher and fire the bullet. Of course, the full procedure can be done without removing the CLU, but the launcher is not light. The full weighs 23.5 kg. So if a soldier has adequate time, he can apply a procedure like the 1 observed. And so take care of your shoulder. – Javelin is simply a simple and effective weapon. Optical instruments let you to admit the mark at a distance of 2.5 km. In turn, it takes a fewer days to train the operator – the teacher points out.
Ukrainian soldiers learn not only tactics and weapons handling. Before they go to the front, they must besides master the basics of rescue. We are going to look at how specified training is conducted by instructors seconded by the Czech army. In the shade of the trees, on a tiny square stand Ukrainians in full care. Backpacks, rifles, helmets, vests... There's an officer in charge walking around. At 1 point he throws the password, and the trained fall to the ground and turn on their backs. Each of them must immediately scope for a tourniquet, put it on the thigh and tighten. It's the first condition to last before aid arrives. A friend can besides help, but he needs to know how. Now the teacher selects a volunteer, puts him on the ground and shows how to halt the bleeding from the artery utilizing a simple bandage. It goes from simple to more complicated.
The battalion training was in full scheduled for respective weeks. erstwhile we come to the ground, it's almost finished. respective more days and the Ukrainians will be back together. That's where they'll train further.
Structures From Zero
EUMAM was originally intended to last until 2024. However, her mandate is likely to be extended for another 2 years soon. – From the beginning, the mission active a large organizational effort, but I think present we can talk about success – said Colonel Robert Wozniak, deputy commander of CAT-C. In total, the instructors trained 46 1000 Ukrainian soldiers. Almost 25% of them came through Polish camps. “In a short time we had to make a completely fresh global structure from scratch. too Poles, we have 21 foreigners. 500 specialists from abroad work side by side with our instructors. And the full mechanics works smoothly – said Colonel Wozniak. CAT-C responds on an ongoing basis to the needs of Ukrainians. “We must adapt training to the changing situation on the front, and that is surely a large challenge,” the officer points out. And the Ukrainians? We have soldiers the Ukrainian side can send. They represent a varied level of training. Surely, however, they cannot be denied commitment. You can see that they are simply wanted due to the fact that they know that the results achieved during the training will then be verified in conflict – concludes Colonel Wozniak.
