Ukraine the focus for former head of the Army who does not miss Main Building 'one little bit'

The former head of the Army, who only left the top job last June, has said he is "not missing Main Building one little bit".

Speaking to BFBS Forces News at the Remembrance Sunday parade in London, General Sir Patrick Sanders said he has a few plans going forward, "But most of all what I am doing at the moment is simply banging the drum for Ukraine".

He added: "I’m going around and talking as much as I can about that."

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It is a conflict close to his heart as Gen Sir Patrick took charge of the British Army as Chief of the General Staff in June 2022, just a few months after Russia had invaded Ukraine in February of that year. 

During his tenure, he oversaw the British Army training Ukrainian soldiers on Operation Interflex and the sending of Challenger 2 tanks to the frontline.

The former Army chief also led the service as it deployed on landmark exercises like Iron Titan, which was the largest on land for more than 20 years, and Steadfast Defender, Nato's biggest since the Cold War.

This year, he joined the newly formed Afghanistan Veterans Community for the Remembrance Sunday parade.

Wearing a desert shemagh along with his medals and bowler hat, Gen Sir Patrick said it was an honour to march alongside fellow veterans of the Operation Herrick campaign, describing the parade as "the biggest and best reunion in the world".