The Minister of Defence presides over an act of homage to the fallen in Ukraine at the Infantry Academy of Toledo

On February 24th, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, presided over an act of homage to the civilian and military fallen who lost their life in this armed conflict. Held in the courtyard of the Infantry Academy of Toledo, the ceremony was also attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, admiral general Teodoro López Calderón; the Chief of Staff of the Army, army general Amador Enseñat; the military attaché of Ukraine in Spain, colonel Serhii Vtorykh, and the mayor of Toledo, Milagros Tolón, among other civilian and military authorities.

Authorities present at the event

This solemn act started with the interpretation of the Ukrainian and Spanish anthems, followed by the call to march ‘Mater Mea’. Then, the minister and colonel Vtorykh placed a laurel wreath on the monolith dedicated to the fallen.

In a message of solidarity and affection, Robles addressed the Ukrainians who are trained in the Academy to transmit them the lesson of dignity and value they are giving the whole world, and claim they have "the power of reason, of the principles and of the search for peace", adding than "Spain feels proud of supporting Ukraine and being here today with you".

The minister greets the Ukrainian soldiers

During a conversation with the military leadership and together with the Ukrainian attaché, the minister especially praised the work that the Spanish Armed Forces are discreetly carrying out: "Sometimes, not doing things ostentatiously doesn't mean not doing them at all. And we are doing a lot".

The ceremony, which counted with the participation of a honor company of the 1st “Inmemorial del Rey” Regiment and of the Band and Music Unit of the Infantry Academy, ended with a call to prayer. Likewise, when the homage finished, the minister greeted one by one all the Ukrainian soldiers who are being trained by the personnel of the Army in one of the detachments of the Toledo Training Command (led by the Defence General Staff) at the Infantry Academy. In this regard, it is worth highlighting that, since the beginning of the war, Spain has collaborated in the work of deterrence and protection of the eastern flank of NATO, as well as in the sending of humanitarian, protective and defensive material.

Placement of wreath on the monolith dedicated to the fallen