How the Kursk incursion is boosting morale for Ukrainians on Operation Interflex
The successful incursion into the Russian region of Kursk by Ukrainian forces is boosting the morale of the recruits who are undergoing training at secret locations across the UK.
BFBS Forces News has heard the stories of some of the recruits who have been taking part in infantry schooling under Operation Interflex, and learning about the Kursk incursion has boosted their enthusiasm for training.
"Things like the Kursk incursion increase their focus and their will to fight," said Captain Holland of Training Delivery Unit (TDU) Three.
"Up here at the Training Delivery Unit, we receive trainees when they are effectively civilians," he explained.
"They get flown into the UK, brought up to our TDU and our aim is in five weeks to turn them from civilians into professional soldiers.
"I think a big piece is the attitude of the Ukrainians who come here.
"They come here with a really positive attitude, and they want to learn, they work really hard, they're working 15 or 16 hour days on a regular basis."
Since the Ukrainian armed forces broke through the Russian border into Kursk, recruits have received a morale boost upon learning that their country was fighting back.
One recruit, a former choreographer known as ‘Dancer’ said: "It's very motivating, we are happy to know we have a breakthrough."
Recruits also received a special video message from their President, Volodymyr Zelensky, which struck a chord with many of them.