Protesters demand ending to Irish military training for Ukraine

A group of protesters, led by the Communist Party of Ireland, have demanded the Government cease military training for Ukraine after it emerged this will include weapons instruction.

Last week, The Irish Times reported that the Defence Forces will provide training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) in seven areas, including rifle training. This runs counter to previous Government statements which said the training would be “non-lethal” in nature.

The training is being provided under the umbrella of the EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (Eumam), a EU Common Security and Defence Policy mission which co-ordinates military training provided to Ukraine by member states to help it fight the Russian invasion.

Training has already been provided in demining and combat medicine. The Department of Defence has said the decision to provide weapons training does not in any way breach Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.

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On Tuesday afternoon, protesters gathered outside the Department of Foreign Affairs calling for a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and voicing opposition to Nato.

A letter signed by Jimmy Corcoran, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, was handed in which called the decision to provide weapons training as “another calculated attack on Irish neutrality.

“It is also designed to ensure that the war will continue, resulting in increased death and destruction.”

The protest was attended by members of several left-wing and anti-war groups, including the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (Pana) which has also criticised the Government’s decision.

Pana chairman Roger Cole said “poll after poll” has shown the vast majority of Irish people support neutrality. “They don’t want to get involved deeper and deeper in this war.”

Another organisation, the Irish Neutrality League which is made up of politicians and activists from Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and other organisations, has also criticised the Government decision.

It demanded the Dáil be recalled “for an emergency debate on Irish Defence Forces weapons training for Ukrainian Armed Forces”.