Military training is being reformed: details from the General Staff
23 March 12:21
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is considering the possibility of moving the bulk of military training from overseas training grounds to within Ukraine. It is expected that this approach will make training more practical and better adapted to the real conditions of modern warfare. This was announced by Yevgen Mezhivikin, deputy head of the General Staff’s Main Directorate for Doctrine and Training, according to "Komersant Ukrainian", citing“Military.”
Why training may be moved from abroad
According to the General Staff representative, one of the main reasons for the potential changes is that foreign instructors do not always have combat experience relevant to the current conditions of the war in Ukraine.
He noted that some training programs do not sufficiently account for the specifics of combat operations on the Ukrainian front.
In addition, Mezhevikin also noted that even abroad, Ukrainian instructors participate in the training of recruits because they have relevant military experience.
“There are a number of training programs we have opted out of because our partners either cannot change their legislation or do not understand certain processes. This is one of the reasons why we are scaling back the training of our troops abroad. We can respond more quickly to changes in the combat situation on the front lines and avoid wasting time moving personnel from one country to another,” explained Yevhen Mezhevikin.
How military training will change
The General Staff believes that conducting training directly in Ukraine will allow for:
- better adapt training programs to real combat experience
- implement new tactical solutions more quickly
- use resources more effectively
- improve the level of practical training for military personnel.
At the same time, Ukraine does not plan to abandon cooperation with international partners in the field of military education.
What international partners are saying
It is noted that the United Kingdom supported the initiative to centralize training in Ukraine. This involves creating specialized training centers where training will be more systematic and effective.
“We are constantly working with partners to make training as high-quality as possible. Incidentally, the first country to propose moving military training to Ukraine was the United Kingdom. Our partners provide financial support and ensure we have everything necessary for effective training,” noted Yevhen Mezhivikin.
What other changes are being planned for military training
Earlier, plans were also reported to introduce mandatory military training for students majoring in medicine and pharmacy.
The goal of this initiative is to
- to create a reserve of military medics
- strengthen the military medical system
- to train specialists needed for the front lines.
The updated training programs are expected to take effect in 2026.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian military personnel have been undergoing training in many EU and NATO countries. These include, in particular, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the Baltic states. Additionally, between 2022 and 2026, over 62,000 Ukrainians received military training in the United Kingdom as part of the Interflex program.
It should be noted that in February 2026, during the Hedgehog exercises in Estonia, Ukrainian Armed Forces units simulated a decisive victory over NATO forces. Ukrainian soldiers explained that the key factor was the massive use of drones, for which the simulated NATO forces were unprepared.
