Berlin and Kyiv Switch Roles: Ukrainian Army to Train German Forces
Germany’s Ministry of Defence intends to enlist Ukrainian soldiers to assist in training the Bundeswehr as soon as possible, with the aim of enhancing its combat effectiveness.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius signed an agreement to this effect last Friday on the sidelines of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the German magazine Der Spiegel.
Ukrainian soldiers are expected to join German military training academies in the near future. Drawing on their practical battlefield experience, they will help strengthen the Bundeswehr’s capabilities, particularly in the use of drones and in conducting operations through digital applications.
According to an army spokesperson, the plan is to “draw on the experience of Ukrainian soldiers in the training provided at Bundeswehr schools.”
Negotiations underway since 2025
The German military declined to disclose further details for security reasons. Within military circles, it has been stated that negotiations with Ukraine have been ongoing since 2025 on how the Bundeswehr can benefit from the Ukrainian army’s frontline combat experience.
Ukrainian troops are expected to pass on practical knowledge gained in battles against Russian forces, including their use of armed drones.
“Currently, no NATO member has more war experience than Ukraine, and we must make use of that,” German officers were quoted as saying.
The precise structure of the training arrangement remains unclear. However, if discussions proceed smoothly, Ukrainian soldiers with combat experience could be deployed to Germany as soon as possible, particularly to train the Bundeswehr’s infantry units.
Given Ukraine’s current recruitment challenges, it is likely that the instructors will initially travel to Germany for limited periods, possibly only a few weeks at a time.
A distinctive expertise
According to military sources cited by Der Spiegel, over four years of war Ukraine has developed “core capabilities” in the use of drones and in countering them—capabilities from which the German armed forces could benefit.
This development marks a reversal of previous practice, as the Bundeswehr has so far provided training to Ukrainian forces. Since the outbreak of the war, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have undergone several weeks of training in Germany at military training grounds.
In addition, the German army has trained hundreds of Ukrainian troops in operating weapon systems supplied by Germany as military assistance, such as the Gepard air defence system and the Leopard tank.
Within the Bundeswehr, officials believe German forces can learn significantly from Ukrainian soldiers’ battlefield experience, particularly regarding the operational use of German-made weapons systems.
Ukrainian expertise in modern command systems is also regarded as especially valuable. In a relatively short period, Ukraine’s armed forces have developed comparatively simple systems for battle planning and troop command, often functioning as mobile applications.
Ammunition supply chains and casualty evacuation are likewise coordinated through digital applications.
