Ukrainians told what to feed NATO soldiers

The difference is astonishing.

Today, more than 5 thousand Ukrainian soldiers and national guardsmen were trained according to NATO standards on the basis of the army Academy at the Yavoriv training ground in Lviv region. Their instructors are American, canadian, English, Polish, Lithuanian military personnel. At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers are learning not only military, but also together with representatives of NATO eat, and already know what should be the food in the army.

In the Central town of Yavoriv polygon is equipped with a canteen for American, canadian and Ukrainian soldiers ‒ as for officers and soldiers, participants in international exercises. Prepares and serves one Ukrainian team of 35 people.

Front of the dining room menu. Here is a list of tens of names of dishes: soup-puree of broccoli, cheburek with cheese, salmon, steamed, steak, rice with vegetables, baked potatoes, three kinds of salads, and separately ‒ cutting vegetables, sauces, baked goods, including several kinds of sweet, fruits, juices, water, coffee, tea, cream, ice cream. Every day a new menu. And the requirement is two side dishes. The Americans, of course, there is the opportunity to make your favorite burgers, and all products for this, but canadian military personnel, given the additional range, like cheese. Ukrainian soldiers, who are trained at the landfill, this food in the first days of surprised, and still see a dramatic difference in the attitude of each state towards its military.

The canadian government allocates to feeding the troops at the Yavoriv training ground 425 UAH per day, and the Ukrainians that participate in international exercises, 360 hryvnia, the remaining amount is paid by the Ukrainian side. Purchase products for the International centre for peacekeeping and security Academy of land forces through Prozorro, i.e. through public auction.

The menu of American and canadian military ‒ more than 600 items of products. There are, in particular, seafood, dozens of types of cheeses.

“There are canadian military chef working in the kitchen. It checks the quality of the products. But we trust the Ukrainian partners, who brought here all the products. I served the soup, the bacon and the pickles are different. Such pickles here ‒ I never did not eat more delicious. We are very pleased with the dining room, you can come and eat together with the Ukrainians, communicate. The staff tries to cook very tasty,” says a canadian soldier Mike Labreck.

Recently completed three-month training of the first battalion, which is fighting on the front, the 79th brigade. Next, who will learn from the experience of NATO and will see a NATO power, will be the soldiers of the 95th brigade.

“Home fried potatoes, delicious soup, salad, meat everything was very delicious, sweet take, different types of fruit. All different and plenty of the first, second, meals, tea, coffee are better than at home,” estimates food requirements according to NATO and Ukrainian military-contractor Alexander Babi.

The difference in nutrition is amazing

It doesn’t even compare, how to feed the military of NATO and Ukrainian soldiers, the Ukrainians are recognized. Tell that to a combat zone were preparing themselves, had a various products, because it helps volunteers, so there are fed delicious, but in military units the food is awful ‒ low-calorie, tasteless, poor quality.

“The difference is, of course, the food we and NATO. In the context of fighting and trench life a lot is not desirable. Thanks to our foreign partners, who provide meals here during a training exercise, I think that we will also establish a power supply system. I joined the army in 1993. 2014 serve voluntarily. Cooperation with NATO is very much gives us in all directions”, ‒ said the soldier Oleg Dubina, who served in a combat zone.

Oleg Dubina

Only three kilometres separates the dining room, organized by canadian and American partners, from the dining room for ordinary Ukrainian conscripts and contract soldiers. The difference in nutrition is amazing.

Ukrainian government allocates to food one soldier 71 UAH per day. Dishes are prepared from 30 kinds of products. In the morning the Ukrainian military on the Yavoriv training ground ‒ pea soup, buckwheat with a chop, pickled cucumbers, bread and bacon. Some thank the chefs, others complain that the soup is cartilage, not meat, no vegetables, no fruit. Soldiers bring bought with the money of vegetables and water.

Deputy chief of rear of the National Academy of the army behalf Sahaidachny Alexander Melnychuk lists the products from which are prepared for the Ukrainian military.

Alexander Melnichuk

“Two kinds of bread, black, white, bread, cereals, pasta, honey, sugar, salt, tea, spices, potatoes, vegetables, meat, fish, animal fats, butter, dried fruit. Grams painted on one person. But vegetables, fruits, these vitamins in the list. We work hard to ensure that Ukraine at least approximately moved to a system of power, as in NATO armies. Already have created a directory of food together with the volunteers. There are about thousands of items. But without modern technological equipment does not cook well”, ‒ says Alexander Melnychuk.

By the end of this year, the defense Ministry promises to change the power on the new system 20% of the units, in each fifth. This, officials say, will enable the military to prepare food from more than 350 products.

Experiments in individual schools and parts was successful. The Western naval base of the Armed forces of Ukraine have already switched to a new system of power according to which military unit buys food, and cooks prepare the military. It is important to take into account the products according to the season. But the amount of food of the Ukrainian military will also increase the minimum to more than UAH 80. To improve the power of the Ukrainian army, we need the political will to exclude a corruption component in this new system.

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