Some 8,000 British troops are to be sent to Eastern Europe to take part in military exercises to combat Russian aggression.
The deployment – one of the largest since the Cold War – will see troops stationed in countries from Finland to northern Macedonia.
Dozens of tanks and more than 100 armored combat vehicles will also be sent to places this summer under plans that have been backed since the start of the war in Ukraine.
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Tens of thousands of NATO and Allied expeditionary forces, including Denmark, Iceland and Norway, will join the armed forces.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the planned exercises would improve the ability of British and Finnish troops to work together, “deterring Russian aggression in Scandinavia and the Baltic states”.
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Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the move would show “solidarity and strength”.
“Europe’s security has never been more important. These exercises will see our troops join forces with NATO allies and partners and the Joint Expeditionary Force in a demonstration of solidarity and strength in one of the largest shared deployments since the Cold War.” he said.
Image: Some of the exercises are planned to include parachuting, air raids with a Challenger helicopter 2 tanks
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“Acting across Europe, the British Army will stand by its partners, combining our capabilities and shared values, promoting peace and security.
The deployment in the United Kingdom is expected to reach a peak of around 8,000 employees working in continental Europe between April and June.
Some of the exercises are planned to include parachuting, air raids with Challenger 2 helicopter tanks.
The exercises are aimed at “showing the scale and importance of the British army’s contribution to Europe’s defense”, the Ministry of Defense added.
Field Army Commander Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddis explained: “The United Kingdom has made a significant contribution to defending Europe and deterring Russian aggression. A series of exercises by the British Army is essential for both.
Image: A number of tanks and armored vehicles are also being sent to Europe for the exercises
“The scale of deployment, combined with the professionalism, training and agility of the British military, will deter aggression on a scale never seen in Europe this century.”
Exercises along with US troops are also being held in Poland.
The Ukrainian capital is under attack after a meeting between Zelensky and the UN secretary general
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, continues to come under fire, killing at least one person and injuring several others during a strike Thursday night.
Rescue officials said some civilians had been trapped under the rubble following a Russian attack shortly after a meeting between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
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Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the Shevchenkovsky district in the northwestern part of the city had been hit twice, causing fires in at least two tall buildings.
Explosions have also been reported in Chernigov, near the border with Belarus, and Fastov in the central part of the country.
Ukrainian authorities also reported intense Russian fire in Donbass, the eastern industrial core that has become a key target for Russia.
Earlier on Thursday, a Ukrainian military official said Russian forces were “firing intensely” as they continued the second phase of their invasion.
A former British soldier has been killed in Ukraine and a second Briton has been declared missing
This comes after it was reported that a British military veteran was killed in Ukraine while fighting with Russian forces.
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2:11 British man killed in Ukraine
Scott Sibley, 36, is the first British citizen to be confirmed dead in the war.
A second Briton, whom Sky News chose not to name, has been reported missing in Ukraine after traveling there to fight.
At the start of the war, the Ukrainian government called on volunteers from around the world to come and help support its armed forces as they took over the Russian invasion.
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