Tri-Service

Russia Labels Ukraine Training Exercise A "Provocation"

Russia has called a NATO exercise in the Ukraine a provocation, as the war in the country continues.

Rapid Trident 2015 came at the explicit request of the Ukranian Government.

Led by the US and Ukraine, it's involving 1,800 personnel from 18 countries, including a sizeable contigent from the US.

British soldiers are amongst those taking part in the multi-national training exercise in the west of the country.

The 11-day exercise, which started on July 20, is designed to promote regional stability and security, strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capacity, and build trust between participating nations.

The Light Dragoons participated in last year's Rapid Trident exercise

It also aims to improve the ability of Ukraine and partner nations to conduct joint operations, and to develop the capacity of the United Kingdom's partners in Eastern Europe to contribute to international peacekeeping operations.

The British Army has sent Battle Group Headquarters staff and an infantry platoon from 1st Battalion The Rifles, a total of around 50 personnel, to provide vital training and contribute to the mission command headquarters.

The UK’s participation in this exercise follows the recent delivery by the RAF of a significant package of equipment support to increase the resilience of Ukrainian troops, and the Secretary of State’s announcement that the UK will step up its infantry training programme in the country.

Before the exercise began, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

"This underlines our commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and our other Eastern European partners.

"Alongside my recent announcement that we are stepping up our training of Ukrainian forces and our delivery of crucial equipment, it sends a clear message that we stand firm with Ukraine in the face of aggression."

In the first phase of the exercise, UK personnel were due to train partner nations’ troops in essential tactics, such as reacting to contact with enemy forces. Battle Group Headquarters staff are also contributing to a command post exercise, testing the ability of commanders to lead operations alongside soldiers and officers from other nations.

In the second phase, British soldiers were due to join in a number of joint field training exercises to test and evaluate the skills shared in phase one, while Battle Group Headquarters staff will form part of a US-led battalion headquarters.

While the purpose of this training is to develop the capacity of participating soldiers to take part in international peacekeeping operations, the skills being shared are essential tasks for any defence force as they will need to protect themselves and personnel under their protection.

This is the 13th Rapid Trident exercise, which was first conducted in 1998, and is the ninth time the UK has participated.