UK Trains and Outfits 30,000 Ukrainian Troops in Interflex Operation
21 November, 2023 Equipment of Ukrainian servicemen during exercises in the United Kingdom. Photo by DES The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom has equipped 30,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel who have been trained in the UK.
DE&S reported on this. The DE&S has supported 30,000 Ukrainian servicemen who took part in Operation Interflex to improve their training since June 2022. DE&S teams sourced, procured, and supplied all the kit and equipment for Ukrainian recruits, as well as coordinated leadership and medical courses for the Ukrainians.
Slides with the amount of aid provided to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Photo credits: UK MoD
In addition, the Ministry of Defense has allocated an additional aid package, which includes:
- 82,000+ helmets;
- 25,000+ sets of winter clothing;
- 10,000+ sets of body armor;
- 70,000+ MREs.
As noted, this is the largest-scale exercise of foreign troops on the territory of the United Kingdom since World War II. In addition to British instructors, professionals from other countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Australia, and Romania joined the Operation Interflex. The course is delivered over a minimum period of five weeks and includes weapons handling, battlefield first aid, Law of Armed Conflict training, patrol tactics and rural environment training, and basic knowledge of international law on the battlefield.
"I am incredibly proud of all the British and Ukrainian soldiers, sailors, airmen and women involved in this major undertaking - their dedication and professionalism today is ensuring peace for our continent in the future," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
These exercises will accelerate the qualification of the Armed Forces personnel and ensure rapid deployment of forces to the front.
Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during exercises in the UK.
Photo credits: MoD UK
As Militarnyi previously reported, the Ukrainian servicemen have undergone training in Lithuania on the use of 120mm mortars. The servicemen gained theoretical and practical skills, as well as practiced live fire at the training ground. According to the published photos, the Ukrainians were mastering 120-mm Panzermorser self-propelled mortars on the chassis of the M113A2 tracked armored personnel carrier.
The main goal of this training course is to prepare 120 mm mortars to perform tasks in various combat conditions.