Over 1,000 Ukrainian troops who received training from the United Kingdom (UK) are set to return home after ferocious training that began in 2022.
After more than six months of training by the British military, close to 1,000 Ukrainian marines will return to fight against the Russian invasion.
The British government said that it is committed to training 20,000 more troops throughout 2023.
The troops were trained in the use of Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons (NLAW) and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as well as the use of mortars and drones for reconnaissance and explosive demolition of obstacles such as Dragon’s Teeth anti-vehicle fortifications.
Although some of the Ukrainian trainees already had experience in the armed forces or on the frontlines, many are civilian volunteers with no military background.
They were trained in amphibious landings using inflatable boats to conduct beach raids, trench and urban warfare, and medical operations during the day and night.
Each training cohort underwent a rigorous five-week programme, developing individual skills including fieldcraft, battlefield first aid, close-quarters combat, fitness, and unit planning in realistic scenarios.
One of the recently trained Ukrainian marines said that the course from the Royal Marines was more ferocious than what was expected.
“The course from the Royal Marines was far more intense than I expected. All the way through, our British instructors have been beside us, showing us how to move and how to work together in a small team. This will make a difference when we return home to Ukraine,” a Ukrainian marine trainee commented.
The Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom, Robert Ben Wallace, said that the UK has provided world-leading training to more than 20.000 Ukrainian Army recruits.
“The UK has led the way in training the Armed Forces of Ukraine, providing world-leading training in frontline combat skills to more than 20.000 of Ukraine’s Army recruits through Operation Interflex,” Wallace said.
He added that the programme of training that was delivered by elite British troops will support Ukraine in building its own distinct marine force and expanding its capability to operate in a maritime environment.
