Estonia to train Ukrainian police chiefs

This week marks the launch of a two-year project during which Estonian police officers will provide training to their Ukrainian colleagues. The aim of the project is to share the experience of the Estonian Police in order to support the development of the rule of law and to strengthen public trust in the police in Ukraine.

Kristi Mäe, Deputy Director General of the PBGB, noted that Ukrainian colleagues greatly value Estonia’s experience and practices in police development from the restoration of independence up to the present day. “The origins of the Estonian and Ukrainian police are similar, as after the collapse of Soviet rule we both had to rebuild our police forces. We have carried out management reforms in the Estonian police force and worked hard to provide security for our people in the best possible way. Ukraine shares these same goals, which is why we are sharing our experience and best practices with them. This is the second time the project is being implemented, and the feedback from our Ukrainian colleagues was very positive the first time around. We know they highly appreciate the content of the training, and it was Ukraine’s initiative to repeat it,” Mäe explained.

As part of the project, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board will train a total of 84 senior and mid-level Ukrainian police chiefs from the National Police Headquarters, the Patrol Police, and police academies. The project will run from 2025 to 2027, during which six study groups from Ukraine will visit Estonia.

The project began this week with the first group of 14 Ukrainian police officers currently in Tartu. The one-week training programme will provide police chiefs with an overview of, among other things, the re-establishment of the Estonian Police, management reforms and the implementation of modern leadership principles, organisational culture, internal control, and future developments. The trainings are delivered by experts from the PBGB, who share their knowledge and experience.

According to Kristi Mäe, the training programme supports Ukraine’s more effective integration with the European Union. “A democratic country must have a strong and independent police force, and for this, modern leadership is essential. As a result of the project, Ukraine’s internal security sector will develop, the management culture of the police will be renewed, and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies will improve. In carrying out this project, gender equality is also important for us, which means that there are female police chiefs in every study group, and we also address topics related to the green and digital transition, as well as the protection of human rights. Strengthening cooperation between the police forces of the two countries is also a key priority,” Mäe explained.

The Police and Border Guard Board is carrying out this training project for the second time. During the project implemented in 2023–2025, 34 Ukrainian police chiefs were trained.
The project “European Way: Enhancing Leadership Capacity and Cooperation in the Ukrainian Police” is funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).

Leana Loide
Press Office
+372 525 4219
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