Ireland claimed that it was providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and teaching Ukrainian soldiers demining and medicine. However, according to The Daily Telegraph, local media have learned that the cabinet has secretly approved a document saying that they will also be trained in combat skills and shooting.
Ireland has been accused of secretly deciding to train Ukrainian servicemen despite its neutral status, The Daily Telegraph reported. Moreover, this was not officially announced, the Cabinet of Ministers signed a secret decree.
Initially Dublin assured that it would provide about 30 servicemen to train the Ukrainian military in demining, combat medicine and so on. But Irish media reported this week that they had learned of a secret memorandum signed by the cabinet under which the Ukrainian military would be trained in combat skills, including shooting.
The opposition accused the government of deliberately covering up the decision. MP Paul Murphy said officials had decided not to tell the public the exact nature of the training.
Irish Freedom Party President Hermann Kelly said the move was “the final nail in the coffin of even Ireland’s claim to military neutrality.” Although Ireland defends military neutrality, its government says it supports Kiev by providing medical supplies, body armor, fuel and other non-lethal materials.
However, Ireland’s Department of Defense said the decision to expand the training offer to Ukrainian soldiers does not contradict Irish military neutrality.
“Providing soldiers with basic military training, including leadership and formation instruction, does not affect this policy of military neutrality,” a spokesman said. – Ireland is militarily neutral but not politically neutral.”
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