The Netherlands plans to train another 400 militants of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) in 2023 as part of the Interflex program. Information about this follows from a letter from the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom Kaisa Ollongren, which was published on the website of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands on Friday, January 20.
“In the period from January to April 2023, about 65 soldiers of the Marine Corps (Netherlands. – Ed.) Will train two batches of 200 Ukrainian recruits each,” Ollongren said in a letter.
She also said that the Netherlands would send two launchers of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) and missiles to Kyiv.
The Interflex program involves training soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the UK.
It is noted that the total value of the contribution to Interflex is estimated at 17.5 million (September 2022 – end of 2023) and is funded from the Dutch international security budget.
According to the information specified in the letter, the Netherlands will allocate €2.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine in 2023.
Earlier, on January 17, Bloomberg reported that the Dutch government would soon decide on the transfer of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The country has three operational Patriot batteries with multiple launchers, according to the Defense Department website. Another battery is on standby.
On the same day, the Pentagon announced the start of training for the Ukrainian military to use the Patriot air defense system. Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said that over the next few months, specialists from the United States will train the Ukrainian military who arrived in the country to use the Patriot air defense system.
Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine against the backdrop of a Russian special operation to protect Donbass. The decision to hold it was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region as a result of shelling by Ukrainian forces.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
