Allied forces have been training Ukrainian soldiers at a specially constructed combat-training camp in a secret location in the East of England, two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The UK Armed Forces’ programme, known as Operation Interflex, has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight against Russian forces. Military personnel from various countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and the Netherlands are working on the operation.
Col James Thurston, the British Army commander leading the operation, has said that “The will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was”. Speaking to the BBC, Ukrainian soldiers undergoing the training have stated that it is definitely hard and fast, but that the training is making an impact because they are highly trained and able to fight all the better. They expressed confidence in their national spirit and their will to fight for victory.
Anastiia, a Ukrainian translator working as a military interpreter, has said that they feel the support of the outside world and that developing their tactical judgement is precious for them. Colonel James Thurston has stated that at the strategic level, Putin’s objective was to divide the West and split them apart, but that the nations have come together collaboratively to train Ukraine. He believes that this signals Putin’s failure to achieve his strategic objective, and that the Ukrainians’ mindset and will to win is still as strong as ever.
The five-week training course involves clearance of a mock village, building by building. The training aims to develop skills specifically for urban warfare, clearing trenches, and valuing tactical judgement. The soldiers will leave the UK ready to return to the front line, highly trained and better prepared to combat Russia’s aggression against their country
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