Defence Forces donate 30 vehicles to Ukrainian army

'The Defence Forces has provided non-lethal training in a number of skills and capabilities, and donated kit and equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.'  Picture: AP/Libkos

The Defence Forces has donated 30 vehicles, including military truck transporters, to the Ukrainian army.

This is in addition to training in non-lethal skills and capabilities, including mine clearance, medical aid and junior leadership.

The training, delivered abroad, is organised under a dedicated EU military mission in support of the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Defence Forces said it had also donated a range of vehicles and two mine clearance systems.

“The Defence Forces has provided non-lethal training in a number of skills and capabilities, and donated kit and equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the statement said.

“To date, as part of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, the Defence Forces has deployed mobile training teams drawn from across the Defence Forces, to several locations across Europe, supplying training as combat life savers, engineer search and demining, Doking mine flail operation [demining], drill instruction and junior leadership training.” 

It said these programmes were continuing this year, but decisions on next year were awaited.

“There is a combat life saver, drill instruction and junior leadership course, scheduled for the remainder of 2024,” it said.

“The Defence Force's commitments to mobile training team assistance to EUMAM-UA for 2025 has yet to be confirmed.” 

Asked about donations to the Ukrainian army, it said: “In addition to training, the Defence Forces has donated two DOKING Mine flails [demining systems], 20 Ford Ranger 4x4s, two ambulances, seven 8x8 DROPS [military vehicle transporters] and one 8X8 recovery vehicle.” 

It said body armour and ration packs had also been provided.

Government policy states Ireland’s military support to Ukraine is exclusively non-lethal.