29 August 2025
Deploying the 10th rotation of Australian personnel on Operation Kudu marked three years of continuous support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
As the training continues to evolve, the Australian contingent now delivers three concurrent battle courses: a 10-week platoon commander; a five-week section commander; and a five-week platoon and company sergeants.
Commander of the contingent Major Tom Folley said they focused on increasing lethality and offensive spirit through small-team leadership and tactics.
“We’re increasing survivability through tactical combat casualty care and concentrating on the synchronising of effects at all levels to enable manoeuvre and maintain pressure on the enemy,” Major Folley said.
“This rotation is the first to include first-person-view drones flown by our Ukrainian partners to support their training, providing a strike effect and battle inoculation.”
He said the integration of the platoon commanders and platoon sergeants courses allowed new platoon commanders to train, plan and execute missions with experienced senior non-commissioned officers, “just as we do in Australia in our training continuum”.
He said despite concerns about the lack of combat experience among Australian instructors, the dedication from Australian and Ukrainian personnel ensured success.
“Going into this deployment we thought we would be challenged by our lack of combat experience in comparison to our training audience,” Major Folley said.
“However, their experience, combined with our professionalism and extremely effective training methodology, has resulted in excellent training delivery.
“That is a testament to the hard work, attitude and the uniqueness of the Ukrainian and Australian soldiers here.
“One of our biggest successes has included introducing first-person-view drones. But I think the biggest success is the hard work and dedication shown by the team of instructors and support staff every day.
“For four-and-a-half months they have worked very long hours in arduous conditions to train and equip nearly 700 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the defence of their country.”
There has been a profound sense of purpose and connection felt by the contingent.
“It has been incredibly humbling,” Major Folley said.
“I can speak for all of us in saying that it is reassuring knowing we have made a significant difference to every single member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine we have trained here.
“Seeing the resilience displayed by our AFU partners, hearing their stories and helping them to defend their country has been an amazing and inspiring experience and one that will define many of our team’s careers.”
