Ukrainian recruits to be trained in the UK until end of 2025 under programme extension
The programme which sees the UK train cohorts of Ukrainian men and women to become soldiers on British soil will be extended into 2025.
Operation Interflex, which continues to evolve alongside the threats facing Ukrainian personnel on the frontline, was due to come to an end this year but will continue until at least the end of 2025.
It is delivered in locations across the UK, taking volunteer recruits and teaching them the skills needed for the frontline.
The training allows Ukraine to speed up deployments, rebuild their forces and scale up their resistance against Russian invaders.
This sees recruits taught weapons handling, battlefield first aid, Law of Armed Conflict training, patrol tactics and receive rural environment training over the five-week course.
More than 45,000 Ukrainian personnel have been trained under the programme since Russia's illegal invasion in 2022.
The Defence Secretary announced the extension alongside Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky, at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) at a US air base in Germany.
More than 50 other nations were also in attendance, as John Healey announced the extension, highlighting the UK's commitment to Ukraine's continued fight against Russian aggression.
"Operation Interflex has provided the brave men and women of Ukraine the vital skills they need to defend their nation in the face of Putin's illegal invasion," Mr Healey said.
"The extension of this training, which is vital for Ukraine's defence, is another example of the UK's ironclad commitment to Ukraine."
Earlier this week, Mr Healey had discussed the training programme with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, in London.
The pair also focused on how the UK will could continue to increase support over the coming months, confirming that £300m worth of artillery ammunition will start to be delivered by the end of this year.
"As I told our allies and partners today in Germany, the UK will continue to step up our support. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," Mr Healey said.
Operation Interflex sees the UK work alongside a number of international partners to deliver the training.
This includes Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Australia and Romania.
The training goes beyond the basics, with personnel trained on UK-supplied equipment, teaching medics and a two-week course for Ukrainian military chaplains.
RAF instructors have also been training Ukrainian pilots on their journey to learning to fly F-16 fighter jets.
Pilots received basic flying training, including aircraft handling and navigation, alongside English language training to assist their further instruction on F-16s with other Nato countries.
It comes after the UK announced a £162m package of lightweight multirole missiles (LMM) to Ukraine at the meeting in Germany.
After Russia attacked Poltava and Lviv this week, the UK is ensuring this support gets to the Ukrainian frontline as fast as possible, according to the MOD.
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