Ukrainian service members will undergo training for operations in extreme circumstances in accordance with a new standard

Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel will complete SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract) training under a new military standard. The curriculum covers topics such as survival, avoidance of capture, resilience in captivity, and evacuation procedures. The training will be structured in three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced, each with specific objectives and training methods. 

The new standard was established by an order of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. It was developed based on NATO standards and incorporates Ukraine's national specifics and combat experience gained during the repulsion of russian aggression.

“The ability to cope with extreme situations is integral to military training programs. The risk of isolation or carrying out combat missions under challenging circumstances is an inherent part of military service. Our goal is to equip warriors with the necessary knowledge and train instructors to support them in overcoming challenges. At the same time, implementing this standard brings us closer to NATO principles, marking an important step toward Euro-Atlantic integration,” said Dmytro Klimenkov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

Military personnel will undergo specialized training in the following key areas:

• Search and rescue operations;

• Survival;

• Avoidance of capture;

• Resilience in captivity;

• Training in evacuation procedures;

• Retraining;

Defenders will gain practical survival skills in various environments, including Arctic, tropical, mountainous, and desert areas. Particular emphasis is placed on organizing search and rescue operations to ensure the efficient evacuation of isolated personnel. 

The training will be conducted by SERE instructors who will receive regular refresher training.

The adoption of the standard aims to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, enhance the training of military personnel, and support the integration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into NATO standards, ensuring a high level of interoperability with Alliance requirements.