ウクライナ新兵、仏国内で実戦訓練 前線派遣に備え

【フランスＡＦＰ＝時事】敵の塹壕（ざんごう）に向かって突撃する部隊を支援するため、ほふく前進するウクライナ兵。フランスの森の中にある軍事キャンプで、ロシア軍の侵攻に立ち向かうウクライナ軍の新兵に対する実戦訓練が行われている。（写真はフランス国内の秘密キャンプで、仏軍による実戦訓練を受けるウクライナ兵）
　この部隊は、４週間にわたる歩兵戦闘訓練を間もなく終えようとしていた。場所や人数、兵士の身元は伏せられている。平均年齢３５～４０歳の予備役や新規動員兵、志願兵で、大半が本物の戦場をまだ見たことがない。
　１１月のある雨の朝、将校の指揮の下、歩兵隊は２日間の演習に出発した。仏軍から教授された知識を、実地演習で身に着ける。フランス人の教官と通訳が同行し、間違いがあれば正し、さらなる助言を行う。
　仏軍による訓練は、欧州連合（ＥＵ）によるウクライナ軍事支援ミッションの一環として、仏政府が拠出する１７億ユーロ（約２７００億円）の一部で賄われている。
　フランスはウクライナ軍に訓練と指導を提供する２４か国の一つとして、年内に自国とポーランドで計７０００人のウクライナ兵を訓練することになっている。
　同プログラムを指揮する仏軍のエバン中佐は、「ここでは武器の扱い方から、市街戦、野戦、塹壕戦といった異なる地理的条件での戦闘まで、兵士としての基本をすべて学ぶ」と語った。負傷兵の応急処置も演習の重要な課題だ。
　「最前線に立つことへの恐怖と、自国の領土を守るという意志と願いが常に入り交じっている。その両面性を日々感じる」とエバン氏。「ウクライナ兵は学ぼうという意欲が非常に旺盛で、常に新しいやり方を教えてくれという。これほど熱心な新兵と働けるのはうれしい」
　両軍の間には温かい交流があるが、エバン氏は「われわれは一定の距離を保たなければならない。前線でウクライナの仲間たちを何が待ち受けているか、分かっているからだ」と語った。
　フランス人教官は、訓練を受けるウクライナ兵と電話番号の交換を禁じられている。「仏軍の士気を下げかねない、強過ぎる絆は避けなければならない」とエバン氏は言った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/12/07-17:10）

Ukrainian soldiers crawl on their bellies at the edge of a forest to support comrades assaulting an enemy trench -- a life-size exercise in a French military camp training them for real fighting against Russian invaders.
This Ukrainian unit is finishing a four-week course on infantry combat, with their numbers, identities and location kept secret for security reasons.
With an average age of between 35 and 40, the recruits include called-up reservists, newly-mobilised civilians and volunteers. Most have never seen battle.
The troops set off one wet November morning for a two-day exercise under their own officers' command, aimed at putting into practice the knowledge gleaned from their hosts.
French instructors and interpreters march alongside to correct mistakes and offer further tips.
Part of a 1.7-billion euro ($1.8 billion) support effort by Paris, France's training falls under the European Union's Military Assistance Mission backing Kyiv.
One of 24 countries offering training and instructors, France should put 7,000 Ukrainian troops through courses on its own territory and in Poland by the end of 2023.
We go over all the basics of the soldiering profession, so taking care of a weapon, fighting in different types of terrain: urban areas, open areas and trenches, said Lieutenant Colonel Even, a French officer commanding the programme who can only be identified by his first name, like others who spoke to AFP.
- Avoid friendly fire -
With fighting against Russian forces taking a heavy toll on Ukrainian troops, first aid is high on the agenda.
Take care of the wounded man! Bring him to the rear! one instructor shouts in a muddy trench Ukrainians are battling to reclaim from the enemy forces -- represented here by French soldiers.
One of the men immediately ties a tourniquet around the arm of his supposedly wounded comrade.
The Ukrainians' mission has been quite successful, in the sense that the units coordinated well, said another French officer, Captain Michel.
In complex terrain like this, a trench network spreading off in several directions, avoiding friendly fire is the key point, he adds.
- 'Fear and motivation' -
In a nearby mock-up of a village, there is fierce fighting after an aggressive counter-attack by the enemy.
The Ukrainian troops have managed to push back the enemy, and now they have to win back the lost ground house by house, says Captain Remi as three Ukrainian soldiers storm a house with red shutters, throwing dummy grenades.
Although the trainees are barred from speaking to the media themselves, the French officers say they value the urban fighting exercises.
There's always a mix between fear of getting to the front line and the motivation and desire to defend their land. You feel that duality on a daily basis, Lieutenant colonel Even said.
They're very keen to learn, always asking to learn new ways of doing things, he added. It's a pleasure to work with such motivated recruits.
Despite the warmth between the two armies we have to keep a certain distance, because we know what's waiting for our Ukrainian comrades at the front, he said.
French instructors are forbidden from exchanging phone numbers with the Ukrainian trainees.
We have to avoid creating ties that are too strong, that could weigh on our soldiers' morale, Even said.