UK-led training for Ukrainian recruits reaches first anniversary
A year on from the start of UK-led training for Ukrainian recruits, more than 17,000 have been transformed from civilians to soldiers.
The training programme – codenamed Operation Interflex – ensures the Ukrainian recruits are ready to return home to continue in their fight against Russia.
The training is for new volunteer recruits who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine with little to no previous military experience to teach them the skills required to survive and be effective in frontline combat.
UK military trainers and nine other partner forces – including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania and the Netherlands – have been in charge of delivering the training package.
Run over a minimum of five weeks for each intake, included in the training is weapons handling, battlefield first aid, Law of Armed Conflict awareness, patrol tactics and rural environment training.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who has visited the recruits on several occasions, said: "The determination and resilience of the Ukrainian recruits that arrive on British soil, from all walks of life, to train to fight alongside our British and international forces, is humbling to witness.
"The UK and our international partners will continue to provide this vital support, helping Ukraine defend against Russian aggression, for as long as it takes."
Since starting in June of 2022, Operation Interflex has trained more than 17,000 recruits, according to the MOD.
Initially, the UK offered to train up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in battlefield skills based on the UK's basic soldier training but this was extended.
The MOD said: "This programme has now been extended and is on track to train the pledged 30,000 recruits by 2024.
"Intelligence has shown that the training has already made a significant difference to the combat effectiveness of Ukraine.
"The UK Armed Forces maintains close communication with Ukraine to improve and evolve the course based on the skills most needed on the battlefield."
'Forged bonds that will last the length of time'
Brigadier Justin Stenhouse, Commander of 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade, said: "The Ukrainian soldiers we see come through Operation Interflex have drive, determination and willpower of that not seen for generations.
"The gruelling five-week package takes a civilian from many different walks of life and gives them the skillsets needed to become survivable and lethal in the face of Russian aggression.
"The solidarity from both the British and multinational forces training the Ukrainians when combined with their determination has forged bonds that will last the length of time.
"We stand up to aggressors. We rise to the challenge. We stand with Ukraine."
Earlier this month, the Defence Secretary met his Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) counterparts in Amsterdam and announced that the UK will commit a further £250m to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), as well as a new package of vital air defence capabilities worth £92m.
The air defence package equipment will be procured in the coming months to "bolster Ukraine's ability to protect its critical national infrastructure, civilian population, and frontline personnel", according to the MOD.
Other recent support for Ukraine has included the donation of Challenger 2 main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, and self-propelled guns, as well as training programmes for Ukrainian infantry, tank crews, and pilots.
The UK Government has provided £4.5bn worth of military aid to Ukraine supplying more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition (with 100,000 more planned for supply in 2023), vital air defence capability, including more than a hundred anti-aircraft guns, as well as self-propelled artillery.
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