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New Zealand to send new Ukraine deployment

Ben McKayAAP
New Zealand will help train Ukrainian soldiers as the fight rages in the war against Russia. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconNew Zealand will help train Ukrainian soldiers as the fight rages in the war against Russia. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

New Zealand is making a fresh deployment of 120 troops to support Ukraine's defense.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand Defence Force personnel would head to the United Kingdom beginning this week to help train Ukrainian soldiers as the fight rages in the war against Russia.

"We will continue to answer the call of Ukraine for practical support as they defend their homeland and people against Russia's unjustified invasion," Ms Ardern said on Monday.

In May, New Zealand sent a deployment of 30 Kiwis to bolster Ukraine's artillery capabilities, while air force assets have also been sent to Europe to help with war logistics.

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That deployment has since ended.

This latest, larger dispatch will be focused on infantry, with two teams heading to Europe to "equip Ukrainian personnel with the core skills to be effective in frontline combat including weapon handling, combat first aid, operational law and other soldier skills".

"We know that one of the highest priorities for Ukraine right now is to train its soldiers and New Zealand is proud to stand in solidarity alongside a number of other countries to answer that call," Ms Ardern said.

The training effort sits alongside training aid from Canada, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

New Zealand's contribution is of a similar size to that of Denmark (130 troops) and Sweden (120), according to Ms Ardern.

At no point will NZDF personnel set foot in Ukraine.

New Zealand has offered other support to Ukraine following the invasion, which began in February.

The government has sent more than $NZ40 million ($A36.2 million) in aid, and sanctioned 840 Russian and Belarusian individuals and entities.

Defence Minister Peeni Henare said more than 800 Ukrainian troops would receive training, but the deployment would also benefit Kiwi soldiers.

"The ability to engage in overseas activities following a long period of support to Aotearoa New Zealand's COVID-19 response will improve morale and job satisfaction," he said.

"This deployment also provides an opportunity for NZDF personnel to gain valuable experience through conducting core soldier skills in a foreign environment, alongside key partners, which promotes retention in our defence workforce."

The deployment will run to November.

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