Ukrainian soldiers train in front of the Alcázar of Toledo

ToledoThe war in Ukraine, a European war, had a peculiar landscape this week: impressive views of Toledo, a fortified city.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian soldiers recently returned from the front were conducting training exercises at the Spanish Army's Infantry Academy, the country's oldest military training center. The scene was curious: dressed in Spanish uniforms, they listened to instructions from a military medic from Zaragoza. "The important thing is to make sure we're not within range of enemy fire. The second priority is to stop the bleeding of the wounded comrade. Then we have to stabilize his breathing..." said Private Díaz. The Ukrainians listened to the interpreter. they asked. The Spanish military nurse used a plastic dummy to help him count. The Ukrainians will have to apply the maneuvers to real bodies. They probably already have: four years after Russia attacked Ukraine, Most of the soldiers who come to train in Spain have already fought on the battlefield.

The war in Ukraine, a European war, has ramifications throughout Europe.

Since the start of the Russian invasion, European militaries have been providing military training courses for Ukrainian soldiers. This is one of the many ways Europe is supporting Kyiv in the face of Vladimir Putin's aggression. The soldiers come for a few weeks, receive training in various areas, and then return to the front lines.

The European Union created a specific military program –EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM)—which, in the last four years, has trained more than 86,000 Kyiv military personnel. Poland, which is closely following the war, has trained the most: around 35,000. Germany ranks second: about 20,000. Spain's contribution, similar to France's, is considerable: more than 8,600 military personnel trained. Outside the EU, the United Kingdom, for example, is leading a similar initiative. the Interflex operation. The British army has trained some 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The landscape, as is often the case in Ukraine, is reminiscent of World War II, when the Allies handed over their facilities to the militaries of the invaded countries.

This week I asked a source in the Spanish army if Spain and the rest of the European countries can still teach Ukrainians their skills. After four years of war, Kyiv's army is one of the most powerful and modern in the world. The source's response was simple: "Yes." "Obviously, they also teach us many things, especially regarding the use of drones and other technologies, but they still need our support, particularly in more conventional areas or in the use of NATO weaponry." This message is echoed by sources within the Ukrainian government, who reiterate their "gratitude" for these European initiatives. On the other side of the conflict, Putin has repeatedly stated that he considers it a provocation.

There was anticipation on Wednesday at the Infantry Academy in Toledo.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles was visiting the facilities to review the training exercises for Ukrainian soldiers. The official car arrived. The Spanish military personnel adjusted their uniforms and saluted the minister. Spanish flags flew at half-mast due to the train accident in Córdoba. Inside a room, where uniformed men served coffee and pastries to the attendees, Lieutenant Colonel Jesús Domínguez Díaz summarized the situation for Minister Robles. He was accompanied by a PowerPoint For that purpose. Lieutenant Colonel Dominguez said some interesting things.

"We've had to adapt the program. At the beginning of the invasion, the Ukrainians who arrived had no combat experience. Now, this has changed: in this latest group we've received, everyone has fought on the front lines before." He explained that the Ukrainian commander who was going to come to Toledo as part of this group of soldiers died in combat a few weeks ago. He explained that warfare is becoming increasingly robotized and that this has made the front lines a more deadly place. The training provided to Ukrainian soldiers is diverse, ranging from basic combat training courses to more specialized ones such as air support, urban warfare, combat engineering, mine clearance, and theoretical lessons in international law and topography. He also explained that, in addition to Toledo, the Spanish army currently trains Ukrainian military personnel in Ronda, Seville, Valencia, Logroño, and Cartagena. Previously, Lleida and Girona had hosted similar training programs.

Minister Robles interrupted the lieutenant colonel and asked, "What do you think of their morale?""Well, they're in good spirits. When they arrive, they're usually very tired, both physically and emotionally, and many of them come with post-traumatic stress disorder requiring treatment, but coming here also provides them with a significant mental break. Here they can live without constantly worrying about whether something is falling from the sky," Lieutenant Colonel Domínguez replied.

The minister asked again: "Of what you can tell us, what is the most remarkable thing we learn from training the Ukrainians?" The Spanish officer insisted: "The robotization of warfare, without a doubt, and learning from the speed with which they adapt to changes and technological innovations." The refinement of the use of drones – of increasingly different types – in Ukraine has completely changed the way war is waged. Another Ukrainian military officer added a note: "We are also surprised, culturally, by their acceptance of casualties, both the Ukrainians and the Russians." The number of soldiers dying is extremely high and would be unacceptable to us."

"I want to go to Madrid too."

In 2023, a video went viral showing Spanish soldiers emotionally bidding farewell to Ukrainian soldiers with whom they had lived for weeks during a training course in Toledo. It's a recurring scene over the last four years.

"We know that when they leave here they go back to war, to die or to kill," said one of the Spanish soldiers training the Ukrainians on Wednesday. It's common for them to stay in touch via WhatsApp and social media after they leave. It's also common for soldiers trained in Spain to later die in combat. The news eventually gets out.

Minister Robles' visit continued, and in a warehouse at the Toledo Academy, Another group of Ukrainian soldiers was waiting to be handed over the pack Welcome items: Spanish uniform, backpack, t-shirts, sweatshirts, towels... The Ukrainians, also from the front, were still wearing their country's uniformThey had arrived in Madrid the night before. They will be here for three weeks. "While they are here, they must wear our uniform," a military officer said. The Ukrainian soldiers will spend almost all their time inside the Academy. They are not allowed to wander freely through the Alcázar of Toledo. "They are not on vacation," he reminded them. Lieutenant Colonel Domínguez.

"I am in Madrid and today I will visit a training session of the Spanish army for Ukrainian soldiers," He had told a Ukrainian commander fighting in Donbas via WhatsApp. Her reply reached me while the visit was underway. "I want to go to Madrid too. I need to get away from here [the front] for a while. Can you help me make it happen?" It is the Ukrainian army that decides which soldiers go abroad for training.

The world of 2026 has entered unpredictable mode And, during the visit, Minister Robles was asked about Greenland. "Yes, Spain would participate in a mission in Greenland if it is under the NATO umbrella, but everything is still to be decided." On Three Kings' Day, Pedro Sánchez opened the door to sending Spanish troops to Ukraine on a peacekeeping mission.Once the war is over. A recent poll said that two out of three Spaniards support sending soldiers to Ukrainian territory if an agreement is reached to stop the war. The Spanish government is not very optimistic about the Trump-led negotiations. It is believed that Putin has no real intention of reaching an agreement. "Putin is putting up obstacles," Robles said. —"Would you go to Ukraine on a peacekeeping mission?" she asked one of the Spanish soldiers in Toledo. —"Yes, of course. We are soldiers. We go wherever we are needed." But the war and the training continue. The last activity scheduled for Wednesday, which was to be supervised by Minister Robles, was a shooting exercise. The exercise was canceled at the last minute. Reason: rain.