Number of Ukrainian recruits trained by UK Armed Forces reaches 50,000
The number of Ukrainian recruits to have been trained under Operation Interflex has reached 50,000, the Defence Secretary has announced.
Interflex was launched in June 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with training being provided in the UK by British military personnel and their allies.
John Healey told the Commons: "The UK continues to be united for Ukraine and this Government continues to step up support for Ukraine.
"As part of this, I can confirm today that 50,000 Ukrainian troops have now been trained through Operation Interflex, that’s the UK-led multinational training programme, which I’ve now extended to run throughout 2025."
Operation Interflex sees cohorts of Ukrainian men and women learn to become soldiers on British soil.
The training is led by British troops and is supported by 12 partner nations.
Nearly nine in 10 Ukrainian troops trained by the British Army under Op Interflex said they felt better equipped to survive on the battlefield following the completion of training, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
The training allows Ukraine to speed up deployments, rebuild its forces and scale up its resistance against the Russian invaders.
Recruits are taught skills including weapons handling, battlefield first aid and patrol tactics.
The training has extended beyond infantry tactics, with courses available for Ukrainian medics and chaplains too.
RAF instructors have also been training Ukrainian pilots who will ultimately go on to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Although Interflex is a success, training Ukrainians has meant that there are fewer opportunities for the British Army.
The Ministry of Defence has recognised that the programme does constrain the Army's capacity to train its own soldiers, with more than a quarter of the Army’s training estate being used.
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