The UK armed forces have completed a six-month programme training Ukrainian marines, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 11 August 2023.
The training, announced by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK in February, saw British Commandos training nearly 1,000 Ukrainian marines in small boat amphibious operations – conducting beach raids using inflatable boats.
It was the first programme of amphibious training delivered by the UK to Ukraine, culminating with the Ukrainian marines planning and conducting raids by both day and night.
“The UK has led the way in training the armed forces of Ukraine, providing world-leading training in frontline combat skills to more than 20,000 of Ukraine’s army recruits through Operation ‘Interflex’,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was quoted as saying. “This programme of training, delivered by elite British commandos, will support Ukraine to build its own distinct marine force and expand its capability to operate in a maritime environment.”
Approximately 900 Ukrainian marines completed the course, which included training to use Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons (NLAW), Stinger manportable anti-aircraft missiles and mortars; unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance; and explosives to demolish obstacles such as Dragon’s Teeth anti-vehicle fortifications.
Equipment used in the training was the same as some of the military support the UK has provided to Ukraine, with more than 10,000 anti-tank weapons – including thousands of NLAW systems – already provided.
Trainees came from a variety of backgrounds, with many being civilian volunteers with no prior military experience, while others have transferred from other sections of the Ukrainian military – some having already been engaged in combat on the front line.
Instructors from 42 Commando and 47 Commando (Raiding Group) delivered the training, alongside British Army Commandos from 24 Commando Engineers and Royal Artillery Gunners from 29 Commando. Instructors from the Netherlands Marine Corps were also part of the training programme.
While more than 20,000 Ukrainian recruits have already received training in the UK since the start of 2022, at the start of 2023 the UK committed to train a further 20,000 under one of the largest training programmes of its kind in the world.
The UK’s training for the armed forces of Ukraine is supported by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.
Peter Felstead
