Soldiers navigate through trenches enveloped in a yellow smoke haze, the sound of machine gunfire reverberating across the fields, while unseen drones drone overhead and voices shout in Ukrainian, “Watch out!”

This scenario could easily be mistaken for the Donbas region of Ukraine, located 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away. However, approximately 2,000 Ukrainian conscripts and veterans are currently undergoing training in the muddy terrain of France‘s eastern Marne region, a site historically significant for the fierce battles between French and German forces during World War I.

This training initiative is part of a European Union-funded program that has already equipped 60,000 Ukrainians for combat since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

In an effort to simulate the conditions faced by Ukrainian troops, the French military has designed the training to mirror the challenges encountered back home, while also familiarizing them with the equipment being supplied by France.

This includes 128 armored vehicles for troop transport and reconnaissance, Caesar howitzers, anti-tank missile systems, surface-to-air missiles, and battlefield radar technology.

The Anne of Kyiv brigade, named after a princess who wed French King Henri I in 1051 at the nearby Reims cathedral, has been training in France since September. In the coming ten days, they will move to Poland before being deployed to the front lines.

French officials indicate that Ukraine requires as many as 15 new highly trained, combat-ready brigades, particularly in light of the uncertainty surrounding future Western military support following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. elections, where he has been a vocal opponent of such assistance.

CONFLICT FOR OUR SURVIVAL

Most of the Ukrainians undergoing training here enlisted in the army just a month prior to their arrival in France, with approximately 10% being veterans. The average age of the trainees is 38, with some individuals reaching up to 50 years old.

Those who shared their thoughts with Reuters expressed a mix of apprehension and a strong resolve to protect their homeland.

“Fear is an inherent part of warfare. For us, this is a conflict for our survival and existence,” stated Colonel Dmytro Rymschyn, 38, who leads the Anne of Kyiv brigade.

“We will soon return to our homeland, and our brigade will demonstrate its capabilities. I have faith in our eventual victory.”

Mykhailo, 50, who transitioned from a chemical factory to military service, has been trained to command an AMX light tank squadron.

When asked if he anticipated the war concluding by the end of the year, he offered an awkward smile: “The hope is that it ends before we have to return.”

French officials noted that the current group of trainees, many of whom are civilians, are adapting quickly and demonstrating how Ukraine’s military can adjust despite facing resource shortages.

After nine weeks of training, the Ukrainians are now equipped to defend their trenches and execute counter-attacks.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu informed reporters that France aims to train more troops in the upcoming months.

“There is a significant human aspect to this,” he remarked. “There is an interaction with individuals who will soon find themselves in combat situations on the front lines, and some may tragically lose their lives.”