Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that French military instructors in Ukraine would be considered a legitimate target for attack by Russia’s Armed Forces. This statement was made during a press conference with Congo’s Foreign Minister Jean Claude Gakosso. The presence of French instructors in Ukraine was confirmed by Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, although discussions with France and other Western allies were still ongoing. French President Emmanuel Macron has not officially confirmed the deployment of military instructors, but mentioned that an announcement regarding support for Ukraine would be made at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Lavrov’s comments were in alignment with earlier statements by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who emphasized that instructors training Ukrainian troops would not have immunity from attack, irrespective of their nationality. Russia attempted to pressure France into delaying the deployment of military instructors, as seen by posters outside the French embassy in Moscow urging the country not to repeat the mistakes of its ancestors. Ukraine has requested assistance from the U.S. and other NATO countries to train 150,000 soldiers closer to the front lines. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas hinted at the presence of countries already training soldiers in Ukraine, without providing specific details about these operations.
The possibility of other NATO member states sending military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train troops and provide equipment repairs is being discussed. The Defense Ministry of Ukraine confirmed ongoing discussions with France regarding the presence of instructors in the country, after the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces signed documents to allow the first French instructors to visit training centers soon. While France has not officially announced the deployment of military instructors, the situation remains tense as Russia views their presence as a legitimate target for attack. The international community is closely monitoring the developments and tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the involvement of other countries in training Ukrainian troops.
