Support to Ukraine

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel deployed on Operation Tīeke in the United Kingdom have marked the departure of the latest intake of Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) soldiers to complete their basic infantry training.

In the two years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the NZDF has regularly deployed specialist teams to the UK and Europe as part of the international community’s support of Ukraine’s self-defence.

Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters have announced an extension of the NZ Defence Force’s military assistance to help Ukraine defend themselves following Russia’s illegal invasion.

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have overseen training for more than 2500 Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recruits in the United Kingdom.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel are continuing to assist international efforts to cohere and coordinate the movement of donated military aid to Ukraine.

Minister of Defence Hon Peeni Henare and his United Kingdom counterpart Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace have visited NZ Army personnel delivering training to Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) soldiers.

Our deployments to the United Kingdom and Europe in support of Ukraine’s self-defence will continue into 2023. We believe in supporting our comrades overseas.

Move, shoot, communicate and medicate is an adage that resonates with most members of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, but for members of Op Tīeke it now has the added focus of survivability and lethality.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will begin to deploy up to 120 personnel to the United Kingdom to train Ukrainian infantry recruits over the next weeks.

The deployment, announced by the Government today, extends until 30 November and will see an infantry training contingent train approximately 800 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel.

Our personnel have deployed to the United Kingdom and Europe to support Ukraine in its self-defence against Russia. Another six intelligence analysts will also be deployed to the United Kingdom.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed to Europe have quickly integrated with international partner militaries and commenced supporting Ukraine’s self-defence.

Our Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft and crew have arrived in the United Kingdom ready to soon begin transporting donated military aid between centres in Europe.

Wing Commander Lisa D’Oliveira, the Commanding Officer for RNZAF No 40 Squadron, said the Squadron was excited to be sending a C-130 Hercules and detachment to support air transport operations in Europe.