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July 15, 2026
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Jacqualin Magnay
The Australian
More than 40 Australian soldiers have been deployed to Camp Jomsborg in Poland to train Ukrainian squad and platoon leaders, but they have discovered the same problem befalling troops on the frontline: equipment shortages.
Members of the Australian Defence Force have been at the camp for two months and, like their counterparts from other nations here, are frustrated that excess and old military stock at home would have a significant and immediate impact helping Ukrainian soldiers.
On the surface, the recently constructed camp is impressive: methodical tents lined in rows for an international consortium of the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as Poland, Australia, New Zealand and the US, all specifically tasked with improving the survivability and lethality of Ukrainian squad leaders.
Deep in a forest where moose roam amid tall pines, the camp boasts all mod cons a fighting force requires: navigational hurdles, shooting ranges, trenches, mock-ups of urban environments for exercises, and medical facilities – which have even assisted those from the frontline with recent amputations.
Incredibly, a couple of men in prosthetics clamber in and out of the training trenches alongside their colleagues with persistence and bravado during the 51-day training rotation.
These battle-weary veterans have come across the border for intense training, which begins at 6am and goes well into the night, where instructors push the leaders to make critical decisions under stress: where the battlefield is as realistic as possible with piercing gunfire, menacing drones, explosions and fire, bloodied, screaming casualties to try to save, all the while trying to kill the Russians (played by a fierce Norwegian contingent).
“Better mistakes happen here than on the frontline … we teach squad leaders to adapt faster than the Russians to make informed, well-planned decisions executed with violence and precision,’’ one Australian soldier said.
“We change and adapt the training on the fly as we get real-time intelligence about what is happening on the frontline; the Ukrainians are here to be better at killing Russians – it’s raw, but it's the reality.’’
There is one part of the camp we did not see: where scientists and computer techs are letting their imaginations run wild, pushing developments of drones and counter drones, with 3D printing machines spitting out UAVs capable of dropping emergency blood supplies, food and water direct to those on the Ukrainian frontline.The camp has been operating since last September and Australians have been deployed here since May under Major Frank, a likeable leader who speaks warmly of his team and is highly complimentary of the Ukrainian instructors with whom he has designed the training program.
He is in awe of the potential of Operation Legio and how it can channel the efforts of 11 nations. He is also concerned resources are stretched, and that the Ukrainians are lacking vital supplies.
“I know the hierarchy are looking at the bigger picture,’’ he said, acknowledging that his requests are well down the list of priorities and that Australia has committed $1.8bn to Ukraine.
“But the hardest part is the nature of the mission, the immediacy is that despite the high quality of training, 30 per cent of the Ukrainians we train will be dead before Christmas and it’s tough to say here at Legio training command that all of the nations can’t give you what you need because we are not in the war.’’
One Ukrainian instructor working alongside the Australian team, an experienced hand at the frontline code-named “Irish”, tells The Australian: “Speaking about all of this material support, we are in desperate shortage of these training materials here on the base and especially in Ukraine.’’
He adds: “(That’s) because we have an extremely big and massive enemy.”
The ADF has sniper rifles currently being replaced and Major Frank is trying to negotiate through the hierarchy in Australia, the import rules of Poland, the agreement of camp custodians Norway and the approval of Ukraine to try to get them here.
It is not that the countries are asking for a lot more, but a more streamlined way of organising it.
Major Frank says concentrating on procurement and donations through Operation Legio’s 11 nations would “have an exponential impact for frontline soldiers”, adding “furthermore, it could prove decisive in this current phase of the war”.Instead of the equipment being spread thinly among different divisions along the frontline, what better than to train the Ukrainians coming through the camp with the donated equipment and they can then take it with them when they return to action?
“We had to turn off a sniper course because the Legio training command doesn’t have the rifles” Major Frank said.
He added: “In Afghanistan the casualties were low, but the impact of improvised explosion devices was big but here, 30,000 Russians a month are killed. This can make people desensitised.’’
Last month, the Australian government committed another $US100m over the coming months for the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). An Australian government spokesman said the country remained steadfast in its support for Ukraine and gifting to the nation was a top consideration when disposing of ADF equipment and capabilities.
“PURL is a vitally important initiative that provides Ukraine with military equipment and capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including air defence capabilities and munitions,” the spokesman said.
“ADF personnel have trained more than 3650 Ukrainian soldiers in the UK and now Poland since the start of 2023, helping to equip personnel with basic infantry tactics, leadership and military skills.”
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said: “We want and need Ukraine to succeed. It’s crazy to think we are potentially disposing of equipment the Ukrainians could use because of bureaucracy. I hope the government exercises political leadership to crash through any barriers to providing this much needed equipment. If Russia prevails over Ukraine, it will cost us all in the long run.”
Major Frank said the Ukrainians arrived at the camp with high energy. Some have spent six months in a foxhole on the frontline, providing insight in the latest tactics and weaponry of the enemy. Australian medics treated one survivor who arrived with shrapnel embedded in his back.
“They apply themselves as if they are fighting for their future every hour,’’ he said.
Colonel Peter Allan, commander of the Australian contingent, Operation KUDU, said “This is not a no-risk activity”, cognisant that Russia has sent drones over the border before. “It is important to remember Australians are training Ukrainians for the sole purpose for them to survive and for them to be best skilled in killing Russians,’’ he said.
When asked about Ukrainians using drones with Chinese components – a situation most allied nations avoid – Colonel Allan said it was “entirely appropriate for them to do that” because those drones were cheap and available.
Ukrainians involved in the Camp Jomsborg training are specific about the skills of the personnel being sent in to train them.
With Norway taking the lead in the camp, Norway operations officer Major John said “Ukraine is holding us accountable for the quality of the training … we are developing in them a warrior mentality to survive in the harshest conditions. They are fighting a brutal war every day and we will wear the consequences of that.
“The instructors and personnel must know that they have given everything.’’
He said the Australian contingent was a very well-selected and competent unit. “They are no nonsense, he said, adding: “Australia has been great so far.’’