British forces have begun training Ukrainian soldiers under a new program to help in their fight against Russia.
Up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers will arrive in the UK for specialist military training lasting several weeks. The first cohort met Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on Thursday, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed.
Wallace, who is expected to launch a campaign to replace Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party, described the program as the next phase of Britain’s support for the Ukrainian military.
“Using the expertise of the world-class British military, we will help Ukraine rebuild its forces and increase its resistance as they defend their country’s sovereignty and their right to choose their own future,” he said.
Ukraine is losing up to 200 soldiers every day, meaning training reinforcements away from the threat of Russian attacks is critical to the country’s military effort.
Around 1,050 British military personnel are deployed to deliver the programme, which will take place at four undisclosed Ministry of Defense sites in the north-west, south-west and south-east of the UK.
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The training will give volunteer recruits with little or no military experience the skills to be effective in front-line combat. Based on basic UK soldier training, the course covers weapons handling, battlefield first aid, field skills, patrol tactics and the law of armed conflict.
The government, which has so far invested £2.3bn in military aid to Ukraine, has also provided AK assault rifles for the training so Ukrainian soldiers can train with the weapons they will use on the front line.
The US also provides training to the Ukrainian military, with senior officers studying at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.
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