Ukrainian soldiers learn weaponry and survival tactics.
Mandoline Rutkowski/Welt
10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been trained as soldiers in the United Kingdom since June of last year.
They learn battlefield survival skills and weaponry, among other skills.
London has also taken a lead role in supplying weapons to Ukraine.
This is a translation of a story originally that appeared in WELT on Jun 13, 2023.
Amid meadows filled with sun-yellow wildflowers, the men are kneeling in the mud, with the blue sky stretching above them all the way to the horizon. It’s one of the first warm days of spring in northern England.
Ukrainian soldiers are crouching in a dug trench, while two men stand at the edge. One of them is giving instructions in English, while the other translates into Russian and Ukrainian. In an area where many English people spend their vacations, Ukrainian men and women are learning the art of combat.
Their homeland has been engulfed in war for 15 months. And as one of Kiev’s most steadfast supporters, Britain is preparing them on this military base to confront the Russian army in the ongoing counter-offensive. WELT, being part of an international media group, was present at a training day.
Ukrainian soldiers at a British training camp.
Mandoline Rutkowski/Welt
“It’s invaluable that we can receive training here on peaceful soil,” says soldier Alina, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. “The Western world understands that Russia is a terrorist state, and you can’t negotiate with Putin.” Up until now, the 28-year-old Ukrainian woman worked as a teacher and librarian. But the war changed everything, she says. The Russians have wiped out the lives of her friends. That’s why she has now enlisted in the army.
Alina is one of a total of 10,000 civilians who have been trained as soldiers in the United Kingdom since June of last year as part of the “Interflex” program, the largest of its kind. The goal is to reach 30,000 by the end of the year. Nine Western partners are supporting Britain in this effort, including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, and the Netherlands. Germany is not involved.
While Berlin does train Ukrainian armed forces, it is on a much smaller scale than its British neighbor. In response to a query from WELT, a spokesperson for the German Armed Forces’ “Special Training Command” stated that around 4,550 Ukrainian armed forces have been trained on German soil so far. This includes 4,200 soldiers as part of the EU mission “EUMAM UA” and additional training missions, such as the ones on the Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer and the Patriot air defense system.
Britain’s commitment aligns with its reputation as one of Ukraine’s greatest supporters. Since 2015, after Russia annexed Crimea and began the war in the east of the country, London has been training Ukrainian soldiers.
Additional training programs have been added since February 24 of last year. Ukrainian soldiers, for example, learn the operation of the Challenger 2 tanks on British soil.
London is also at the forefront when it comes to the delivery of weapons.
Within the five-week training mission “Interflex” taking place at multiple military bases in northern England, civilians are trained in handling weapons, such as the NLAW anti-tank weapon provided by London, as well as battlefield first aid and patrol tactics.
London also takes a leading role in supplying weapons. Britain was one of the first countries to promise the delivery of Western-style battle tanks following the Russian invasion. Recently, London delivered long-range cruise missiles, once again crossing a red line drawn by the West. And when it comes to the Ukrainian request for Western fighter jets, it is once again London that, with its assertive stance, pushes the other partners into action.
London is also making bold rhetorical moves. Unlike other Western countries, including Germany, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tirelessly emphasizes that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is in NATO. The British government also insists on Ukraine’s right to self-defense. Just last week, Foreign Minister James Cleverly stated that Ukraine generally has the right to “use force beyond its borders” to weaken Russian combat capabilities.
This response came in reference to journalists’ questions about the drone attack on a residential building in Moscow. “Legitimate military targets beyond one’s own borders are part of Ukraine’s self-defense,” Cleverly stated. In this regard, London went further than the United States and other partners.
Moscow reacted angrily to Britain’s stance. In response to Cleverly’s statement, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev referred to the British as Moscow’s “eternal enemy.” He wrote on Twitter that Britain is engaged in an “undeclared war” with Russia. According to him, any official representative of the country, be it military or civilian, could be considered a “legitimate military target.”
—Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) May 31, 2023
Alexei Leonkov, a military expert appointed by Russian state television, went so far as to assess the attack as planned by London and threatened nuclear strikes on “decision centers” in Great Britain.
At the military base in northern England, there is little sign of Russian intimidation. British and Ukrainian soldiers are highly motivated, says Lieutenant Truton on the outskirts of the training area, while artillery shots break the silence of the summer day in June in the background. “This training program is special because we know it can help soldiers survive on the battlefield in just a few days.”
Training instructor Lieutenant Truton
Mandoline Rutkowski/Welt
Just a few meters away, the armed forces simulate how it could look. Among empty residential buildings, Ukrainian soldiers learn how to liberate an occupied building. Commands in English, Russian, and Ukrainian languages mix with the rumble of artillery shots on the grounds.
White fog, caused by smoke grenades, obscures the view as the recruits approach the high-rise building under its cover. In about half an hour, the house is captured.
The house was liberated after 30 minutes.
Mandoline Rutkowski/Welt
In a few days, the soldiers will return to Ukraine. On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the counter-offensive had begun. Kyiv has already announced the recapture of several villages.
The advances of the Ukrainian army are seen as precursors to a large-scale maneuver towards Mariupol or Melitopol. By capturing one of these cities, Kyiv could disrupt the strategically important land bridge to Crimea for Russia.
Alina, the 28-year-old soldier, and the other newly trained Ukrainian forces at the military base are ready for their return. However, they emphasize that Western support is essential for Ukraine’s victory – both now and in the future. “Everything we learn today will also be able to protect us from the Russian aggressor in the future.”
And then she says the sentence that has connected Western partners and Ukraine like an invisible bond in recent months. “Our victory will be your victory too.”