Borrell: Europe has already trained 27 thousand Ukrainian military

The European Union has trained more than 27,000 servicemen for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said in a video address to the participants of the Defense Industry Forum in Kyiv.

In mid-September, the EU countries decided to increase the number of Ukrainian military personnel who will be trained in European centers.

By 2024, it is planned to train up to 40,000 Ukrainian military personnel.

As it became known, on Saturday Borrell unexpectedly came to Odesa on a visit. He recorded a video message against the backdrop of Odesa's Cathedral, which was severely damaged by a Russian missile strike on July 23.

In this address, he condemned the barbaric attacks on Ukrainian cities.

"Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression and regain control of its entire territory," he said.

And the European Union will support Ukraine as long as necessary, Borrell said.

"Odesa is a beautiful historic city. It should be in the headlines for its vibrant culture and spirit. Instead, it is in the news as a frequent target of Putin's war. The EU supports the restoration of sites that have been barbarically destroyed by Russia," Borrell wrote on Twitter.

"One year has passed since Russia's illegal annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Ukraine has every right to defend itself against Russian aggression and regain full control of its territory. The EU stands by Ukraine as long as necessary," he added.

"Ukraine's civilian law enforcement agencies are directly involved in the defense of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. They play a key role in stabilization efforts, including in the recently liberated territories. The EU is helping to strengthen their capacity," Borrell added after the meeting with Odesa law enforcement officers.

Background. Earlier it was reported that the EU would train 10,000 more Ukrainian soldiers than planned.