Ireland would like to help the Ukrainian military as part of an EU training mission, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has confirmed. 

The Irish Times reports that 30 members of the Defence Forces could take part in the EU’s Military Assistance Mission in which Ukrainians will be trained in combat medicine, engineering and explosive ordnance disposal.

Last year, then Minister of Defence Simon Coveney told the Dáil that Ireland would like to take part and today An Tánaiste confirmed that was still the case. 

Defence Forces Army soldiers training on a snow covered Curragh Plains, this morning as Russia invaded Ukraine. Photographer: Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie

“If we can be of assistance, we will on the training side,” Mr Martin said. 

“Because what Russia has done is in breach of the UN Charter; the Ukrainian people are trying to defend themselves in the face of an illegal breach of the UN Charter - which is quite fundamental in terms of the rule of law that applies across the world.” 

The training will take place in Poland and Germany.

Main image: Split of Micheál Martin and a Ukrainian soldier.