UK Trains 30,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Ahead of Winter Deployment

The UK's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) has trained over 30,000 Ukrainian civilians as soldiers in the largest military training program on British soil since World War II.

This was achieved ahead of schedule under the UK-led Op Interflex, bringing the total number of trained Ukrainian soldiers to over 52,000 since Russia's 2014 invasion. DE&S facilitated the sourcing, procurement, and supply of all necessary equipment, along with organizing leadership and medical courses for the Ukrainian recruits.

Implemented across various locations in the UK, the program accepts volunteer recruits with minimal military experience, providing them with essential skills for frontline combat. This training enables Ukraine's forces to expedite deployments, rebuild their strength, and enhance their resistance against Russians.

Since its launch last summer, the international collaboration has seen participation from partner forces such as Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Australia, and Romania. The comprehensive five-week course covers weapons handling, battlefield first aid, Law of Armed Conflict training, patrol tactics, and rural environment training.

Over the past year, the UK's support has expanded to include specialized training for Ukrainian Marines, including small boat amphibious operations led by British Commandos, mine-clearance training by the Royal Engineers, trauma response training, and Army chaplaincy support for Ukrainian padres.

Additionally, the UK recently supplied 82,000 helmets, 25,000 sets of winter clothing, 10,000 sets of body armor, and 70,000 ration packs to the Ukrainian armed forces.