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Soldiers

British Army Trains Ukrainian Troops in Operation Interflex, Strengthening Resistance Against Russian Invasion

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A British Army training base has been transformed into a mock battlefield, with Ukrainian soldiers being taught by the British Army's Irish Guards regiment and partner nations, including Australians and Swedes, as part of Operation Interflex. Over 60,000 Ukrainians have already travelled to the UK for the operation, which ranges from six weeks of basic training to programmes developing leaders and instructors. Viktor, a Ukrainian soldier, credits the training with saving lives, saying "When I got here I had a kind of depression. At the front line, you get used to the constant stress. Here in the UK, everything is very calm and quiet." The training also provides a safe place for Ukrainian troops to drill, learn, and psychologically step away from the front lines, with the Britons learning valuable lessons from the Ukrainians on how to counter drones.

Key Takeaways:

  • The British Army's Operation Interflex has trained over 60,000 Ukrainian troops since its inception, providing them with skills ranging from basic combat training to leadership development.
  • Ukrainian soldier Viktor credits the training with saving lives, saying he had depression at the front line but found calm and quiet in the UK.
  • The core of the UK's contribution to Operation Interflex is providing a safe place for Ukrainian troops to drill, learn, and psychologically step away from the front lines.
  • The Britons working on Interflex have learned valuable lessons from the Ukrainians on how to counter drones, with a wave of suspicious drone sightings over military bases in recent months and several Nato allies recording Russian drone incursions into their airspace.
  • The training includes social evenings, including cooking the classic Ukrainian dish borsch and having barbecues, with the Britons and Ukrainians building strong bonds.
  • At the end of the programme, the Ukrainian troops are given a hero's farewell as they depart for the front lines.
  • An Irish Guard piper plays the traditional Ukrainian folk song "Oi u luzi chervona kalyna" to the departing trainees.
  • The Britons, standing with partner countries, form a guard of honour as the Ukrainian troops leave the training camp for the final time.

Statistics:

  • Over 60,000 Ukrainians have travelled to the UK for Operation Interflex.
  • The training programme ranges from six weeks of basic training to programmes developing leaders and instructors.
  • An additional 12 drone pilots have been qualified by the British-made equipment tested and trained with the Ukrainians.
  • There have been several Nato allies recording Russian drone incursions into their airspace.

Sources:

  • By Joe Giddens PA (no date specified)
  • Captain Matthew Evans, Officer Commanding 1 Company, 1st Battalion, the Irish Guards (no date specified)
  • Lance Corporal Adedeji (no date specified)

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