Ukrainian soldiers participate in urban assault training during Operation Interflex — Op Interflex has previously seen British troops train Ukrainian soldiers – but there are lessons to be learned in reverse too, as Mr Healey described Ukrainian troops as the most "creative and combat-experienced" in the world right now (Picture: MOD)

Politics

Military may be forced to choose between defending Ukraine or the High North, MP says

A Conservative MP has questioned whether the UK Armed Forces would be able to sustain simultaneous deployments to Ukraine and the High North in the event of a ceasefire in the former.

Ben Obese-Jecty, who is also a former British Army officer, floated the idea of a compromise given the size of the Army, which currently stands at around 74,000.

His remarks came as Defence Secretary John Healey said that the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU), a peacekeeping force of British and French troops, will deploy once a peace agreement is reached between Ukraine and Russia.

The trade-off

How Armed Forces might be used in Ukraine reassurance role

"There is potentially a trade-off to be made between putting troops on the ground in Ukraine and putting troops on the ground in the High North," Mr Obese-Jecty told the House of Commons.

"There is a possibility that doing both of those things to the sufficient level that we require may prove to be too much of a challenge."

Mr Obese-Jecty, who was previously an officer in the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, now The Royal Yorkshire Regiment, based his assessment on a figure of 7,500 troops being sent to Ukraine as part of the MNFU, equating to roughly 10% of the current British Army.

This is a smaller number than the peak of 10,000 who were deployed to Afghanistan, although it reflects a material difference in the nature of the operation.

The MNFU would need three times the touted figure to sustain a deployment, with 7,500 returning, 7,500 doing the job, and 7,500 training to go out to the country that just commemorated the four-year anniversary of its war with Russia, he said.

Therefore, it would mean that 22,000 personnel from a field army of around 40,000 would be committed to monitoring the fringes of Nato's eastern flank.

"With the Prime Minister announcing our commitment to Operation Firecrest this year, with the Carrier Strike Group as well as the expanded Royal Marines commitment in Norway, then suddenly our Armed Forces are on the cusp of looking overstretched," he added.

"Doubly so, in the event that anything else comes into scope or goes hot."

The MOD was approached for comment to confirm the accuracy of the assumed 7,500 figure.

British Army and Royal Air Force prepare to deploy

Mr Healey has seen first-hand the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine, having visited Kyiv early in 2026 (Picture: MOD)

Mr Healey told the House of Commons that the British Army and the Royal Air Force are now conducting exercises in preparation for deployment to Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary said that £200m of funding has been accelerated to ensure the troops have enough kit and equipment.

"The Ukrainians are the most creative, and the combat-experienced defence industry and armed forces in the world at present, and we also have a great deal to learn," Mr Healey continued.

Details about the structure and the deployment will be released in due course, while The House of Commons will be able to debate and vote on the deployment of British troops to Ukraine, he said.

Alongside his announcements about movements on the MNFU, Mr Healey acknowledged the problem that the UK is procuring body armour for female soldiers in Ukraine, while not yet doing so for female soldiers in the British Army.

The Defence Secretary added that the Ministry of Defence is now leading a new operational taskforce to advance plans on tackling the Russian shadow fleet.