'War is now in its fourth year, and Ukraine needs battlefield leaders': Evolution of Op Interflex
British forces are making a vital contribution to Ukraine's combat capabilities against Russia by training senior military personnel as part of Operation Interflex, a former commander of Joint Forces Command has said.
General Sir Richard Barrons spoke to BFBS Forces News following the expansion of Op Interflex, a British training initiative for Ukrainian military personnel, to include additional leadership instructor training.
"This latest shift echoes that this war is now in its fourth year, and Ukraine needs leaders," Gen Sir Richard said. "It needs officers and NCOs on the battlefield, as well as people who can follow them and do the fighting.
"And one of the contributions the UK can really make well is training officers and NCOs."
Investment in Ukraine's future
Since its inception in July 2022, more than 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained under Op Interflex.
Originating as a five-week basic infantry course, Interflex has since been extended to seven weeks with additional modules introduced on commanding at platoon and section leader level, as well as instructor training.
Op Interflex has also been extended until at least the end of 2026, following an announcement by Defence Secretary John Healey on Ukraine's Independence Day.
It's part of a military financing package worth £4.5bn by the end of 2025.
Gen Sir Richard described the training initiative as "even more significant" in light of the fresh focus on leadership training.
"This recognises that, as of today, that war in Ukraine seems to have a long way to go," he said. "We need to recognise that even if the shooting stops, and it will one day, that the UK is committed to supporting Ukraine after a ceasefire and perhaps a settlement.
"So this capacity-building contribution to Ukraine is going to endure… for the foreseeable future. It's really important work."
British benefits
While primarily designed to support Ukraine, British troops also gain the benefit of insight from Op Interflex, Gen Sir Richard explained.
"The instruction is a combination of what the UK instructors do and support, and the Ukrainian instructors fresh from the battlefield," he said.
"The UK Army is benefiting from really recent battlefield experience without having to be on the battlefield."
Such experience could prove invaluable in the event that British troops are deployed to Ukraine as part of a mooted Reassurance Force to enforce a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
"Once we start to use words like guarantee and deterrence, then we're not talking about just training Ukrainians. We're talking about deploying capability," Gen Sir Richard said.
"Nobody knows how this turns out yet, but the spectrum of alternative outcomes starts, I think, with continuing training in the way that the Army is doing now."
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