Australia news live: ‘perilous path’ to avoid global recession, Chalmers says; Littleproud criticises Thorpe’s Mardi Gras protest

First Ukrainian recruits taught by Australian instructors graduate

The first Ukrainian recruits have graduated in Operation KUDU on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Australian government defence media said in a statement.

“Some of this training will be close to what many of you will soon be facing, or have already faced at home,” Commander of the Australian contingent on Operation KUDU, Major Gregory Sargeant, said.

“Our involvement is only a small part of your journey, but we take great pride in that small part we play.”

Almost 200 Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recruits marched out from the UK-led training program, under the instruction of the first Australian contingent deployed.

The program – made up of nine partner nations training more than 10,000 Ukrainians – has recruits undergo intensive combat training to learn foundations of warfighting, to mimic the current conditions in Ukraine.

The volunteer force was taught weapons handling and firing, wooded and urban fighting, trench warfare and medical survival skills by Australian instructors.

No Australians will enter Ukraine as part of this program.

Deputy prime minister and minister for defence, Richard Marles, says:

The recruits in this cohort started their journey as ordinary people who lived normal lives much the same as ours, and have since answered the call to defend their country and the freedoms Russia has tried to remove.

They bring with them stories from home, of why they joined the AFU and a fierce desire to protect their country and the freedom they had.

They leave with skills and knowledge that will save lives and will empower them to take up the fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.

A Ukrainian recruit says they joined the armed forces “to protect my native home and my family”.

“First of all, it is the protection of one’s family. The second is freedom. Freedom of the people.”