Ukraine Archives - CONTACT magazine

An Australian Army soldier serving on Operation Kudu instructs Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel on section attack tactics. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

From dream job to nightmare of Russian invasion

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5744 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Interflex, Operation Kudu, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Olena was at her dream job, a personal trainer at a successful gym, when she heard news of Russia’s invasion

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank fires during Exercise Jericho Dawn 2016. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie

Australian Army Europe News

Australia donates retiring Abrams to Ukraine

18/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1266 Views 9 Comments M1A1 Abrams, M1A2 Abrams, Ukraine

The Australian government has announced it will gift 49 retiring M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to bolster that country’s fight

RAAF armament technicians prepare a guided bomb unit (GBU-32) for use by the Air Task Group in the Middle East region. Photo by Corporal Ben Dempster.

Australian Europe News

Australia’s largest single military assistance package for Ukraine

12/07/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1573 Views 3 Comments Ukraine

Australia continues its steadfast support for Ukraine with the announcement of its largest single military assistance package to date, worth

A New Zealand soldier observes a Ukrainian Army training activity in England. Photo by (ADF) Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

New Zealand News

NZDF pivots in training package for Ukraine

22/05/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1365 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on Operation Tīeke in the United Kingdom have marked the departure of the latest

The crew of RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail meet Australia's High Commissioner, Stephen Smith, at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland after a six month European deployment as part of Operation Kudu. Story by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Guardian a blessing in the skies

26/04/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1825 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, No. 2 Squadron, Operation Kudu, RAAF Williamtown, Ukraine

Australia’s watchful ‘guardian-from-above’, the E-7A Wedgetail, has returned home after providing critical early-warning protection for the military and humanitarian logistic

A New Zealand soldier supervises a training scenario for recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as part of New Zealand's Operation Tīeke in the United Kingdom. Photo supplied.

Europe New Zealand News

New Zealand increases training support for Ukraine

24/02/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1472 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

The New Zealand government has announced an extension to its support in training Ukrainian recruits and provided additional funding for

Personnel from 2 Squadron operate an aircraft de-icing machine to remove ice and snow from an E-7A Wedgetail during Operation Kudu in Germany. Story by Major Carrie Robards. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

Europe News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF Wedgetail at work on Ukraine-support mission

20/12/202320/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 4465 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, no. 1 Combat Communication Squadron, No. 1 Security Forces Squadron., No. 2 Squadron, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

Night has fallen at Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany, and the temperature plummets towards freezing, but the cold weather

An Australian soldier deployed to the UK on Operation Kudu supervises the training of Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Zerbe.

ADF Europe News

Australia to expand Ukraine training operation

18/12/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2015 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

Australia will extend and expand its commitment to the training of recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part

As part of Australia's continued support to Ukraine, a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail has been deployed to help protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance. Photo by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Europe News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie Wedgetail in Germany to support Ukraine

27/10/202330/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1776 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

A RAAF E-7A Wedgetail has deployed to Germany in support of multinational efforts helping to protect a vital gateway of

Australian Government-donated Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles bound for Ukraine at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, in April 2022. Photo by Corporal Jesse Kane.

Australian Army Europe News

30 more Bushmasters for Ukraine

12/07/202316/07/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1505 Views 3 Comments Ukraine

Australia will provide another 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine, expanding on our previous commitment of 90 Bushmasters. FILE

A No. 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail aircraft soars through the clouds on a training sortie. Photo by Corporal Shannon McCarthy.

Europe News Royal Australian Air Force

Is Australia getting too close to Ukraine action with Wedgetail deployment?

11/07/202316/07/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3478 Views 29 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Ukraine

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail and about 100 aviators will be

M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers. Photo by Corporal Steve Duncan.

Australian Army Europe News

“Banana Republic” pledges another $110million aid package to Ukraine

27/06/202327/06/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3789 Views 20 Comments Ukraine

Australia has pledged a new $110 million assistance package to Ukraine – including 70 military vehicles, 105mm artillery ammunition and

An EOS Mk2 remote weapon station firing at Wide Bay Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Trooper Jonathan Goedhart.

Australian News Science & Technology

EOS secures second contract for Ukraine

26/04/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1509 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) today announced it has secured a second conditional contract to supply up to 50 Remote Weapon

An Australian Army M2 12.7 HB CQB heavy machine gun mounted on a Mk2 Remote Weapon System on an Australian Army ASLAV. Photo by Trooper Jonathan Goedhart.

Australian Europe News

Aussie company sells $120million remote weapon stations to Ukraine

12/04/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3220 Views 1 Comment Ukraine

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has announced it has secured a conditional contract to supply Remote Weapon Systems (RWS) to Ukraine

A Russian Air Force Su-27 attempts to dump fuel on a USAF MQ-9 Reaper drone, ultimately causing the drone to crash into the Black Sea.

Europe News Overseas Videos

Footage of MQ-9 Reaper takedown near Crimea

17/03/202326/03/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6142 Views 5 Comments Ukraine

Two Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted an intercept of a US Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft off

Australian Army soldiers from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, demonstrate trench warfare tactics to Ukrainian trainees in the UK. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

Australian Army News UK Videos

Ukrainian recruits taught trench warfare

07/03/202311/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2771 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

Armed Forces of Ukraine recruits, under the guidance of Australian Army instructors deployed on Operation Kudu in the United Kingdom,

Ukrainian recruits gather to commemorate the year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine at a urban training facility in the United Kingdom. Image has been altered for security purposes. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

ADF News UK Videos

First Aussie-trained Ukrainians graduate

26/02/202326/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2258 Views 0 Comments Ukraine

On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, almost 200 Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recruits marched out

Ukrainian trainees conduct captured personnel handing and searching during Operation Kudu. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photos by Corporal Jonathon Goedhart.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

Diggers teach Ukrainian recruits skills to survive

15/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2817 Views 0 Comments 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Operation Kudu, Ukraine, Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF)

In a section of woodlands in southern England, a platoon of Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) recruits are developing survivability skills

Australian Army soldiers and officers receive their first rotation of Ukrainian recruits during Operation Kudu in the UK. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

Australian Army News Overseas

Aussie Diggers train first batch of Ukrainian recruits

07/02/202308/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3329 Views 6 Comments 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

The Australian contingent deployed on Operation Kudu has taken responsibility for its first company of Ukrainian recruits, as part of

Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles talk to Ukrainian recruits during his visit to Australian Defence Force personnel taking part in Operation Kudu in England. Photo by Kym Smith.

Australian Army News Overseas UK

DPM/MinDef visits Aussie troops training Ukrainians

02/02/202302/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2219 Views 2 Comments Operation Kudu, Ukraine

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong yesterday visited Australian soldiers

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