According to a recent report from The Times, they are thinking about sending troops to Ukraine. These troops would train Ukrainian soldiers in special hidden locations instead of doing the training in the UK. This plan could save money and be safer for everyone involved, according to military sources.
The idea is to set up training away from the battlefield, meaning the risks for trainers would be lower. One British military source stated, “We could do the training quicker out there, far from the front line, so the risk would be much lower.” This approach seems to be appealing to Ukraine as well. A Ukrainian military official mentioned that having British trainers in Ukraine would send a strong message to Russia and other countries. It would also mark the start of NATO’s military presence in Ukraine, potentially acting as a deterrent against Russian aggression.
Interestingly, the British instructors wouldn’t just be teaching. They could also learn from the Ukrainian forces, gaining valuable battlefield skills and testing new weapons that have been developed during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
This news comes during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s tour of Europe, where he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of showing support for Ukraine amid the war.
So far, more than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by Western countries, with almost half of them receiving training in the UK. However, this extensive training has left some gaps in the British military. Luke Pollard, the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, recently acknowledged that the UK Army has lost many of its own resources to support Ukrainian training efforts. He explained that they have had to sacrifice some of their artillery, such as the AS90 self-propelled howitzers, for the greater good.
Despite these challenges, the British military is determined to help Ukraine. A recent report revealed that training requests from British Army units were denied more frequently this year than in the past. The training facilities have been busy because they are being used to train Ukrainian soldiers.
As the situation continues to develop, all eyes will be on whether British troops will indeed make their way to Ukraine for this crucial training mission. The outcome could have significant implications for both nations and the ongoing conflict.
