Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on a visit to the UK today, where he is meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer for bilateral discussions. Reports by British media suggest that the UK may send troops to Ukraine to provide training on the ground. A spokesperson from the UK Ministry of Defence emphasized that Britain’s support for Ukraine is unwavering, and they are in close consultation with Ukrainian partners to determine the best training programs.
In response to inquiries, the spokesperson mentioned that Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed that the UK will continue its training program for the Ukrainian military, known as Operation Interflex, in the UK next year.
The UK initially launched its training program, Operation Orbital, in 2015 as a response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and military occupation of eastern Ukraine. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Operation Orbital was halted; however, the UK subsequently resumed a training initiative for Ukrainian forces in the UK during the summer of that year under Operation Interflex, which also included a significant number of civilian volunteers.
According to the latest statistics from the UK Ministry of Defence, Operation Interflex has trained over 47,000 personnel to date, with more than ten other countries joining to provide instructors and support.
It’s noteworthy that last July, then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace issued a written statement to Parliament announcing that Britain had reactivated its military attache office in Ukraine in April 2022 to better understand and support Ukraine’s “most urgent needs” in their defense against Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Wallace highlighted the importance of deploying personnel to ensure the office operates safely and does not overburden Ukrainian forces.
His statement also mentioned that the UK is continuing its long-standing Operation Orbital training program, with personnel including military medical staff providing training and guidance to Ukrainian forces.
The Ministry of Defence did not comment on the number or locations of personnel deployed in Ukraine.
While the UK Ministry of Defence occasionally shares updates regarding Operation Interflex, it maintains a notably low profile regarding Operation Orbital, which is carried out in Ukraine.
Today, President Zelenskyy is visiting the UK before continuing to France, Italy, and Germany as part of a whirlwind tour to promote Ukraine’s “Victory Plan.”
The Times reported that British military leadership is considering sending a small number of troops to Ukraine to conduct training in “discreet locations.”
The proposed plan, currently under discussion, would have a limited number of British military instructors travel to western Ukraine to provide intensive basic training to new recruits. This would be more efficient and cost-effective than sending Ukrainian personnel to the UK for training.
Additionally, UK personnel would have the opportunity to gain deeper insights from the battlefield experience in Ukraine and test equipment.
A source from the Ukrainian military informed The Times that moving the training to Ukraine would send a “strong military and political signal” to other countries and Russia.
This initiative would mark the beginning of a “significant” NATO military presence in Ukraine, contributing to a broader “strong deterrent” effect.
