Ukrainian soldiers to be trained by Britain for another year

Ukrainian soldiers will be trained by British military experts until at least the end of 2026, the Defence Secretary has announced.

John Healey said the UK was “ramping up” its support for Ukrainian forces, ahead of independence day celebrations in Kyiv. More than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained on British soil, according to the Government.

To mark Ukrainian independence day on August 24, Mr Healey said: “We will continue to step up our support alongside allies, so that Ukraine can defend today and deter tomorrow. In the face of ongoing Russian attacks, we must put Ukraine’s armed forces in the strongest possible position.

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“And as the push for peace continues, we must make the Ukrainians into the strongest possible deterrent to secure that future peace. On this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people, we are ramping up and evolving our world-leading training support that has given more than 50,000 Ukrainians vital combat skills.

“This matters to Ukraine and it matters to Britain. A secure Ukraine is a secure Europe. From learning lessons from the battlefield to strengthen our own armed forces, to deepening our military industrial collaboration supporting jobs across the nation, Britain and Ukraine are growing closer than ever before.”

Ukrainians will mark 34 years since their country left the Soviet Union, with more than 2,000 Ukrainian recruits, British military personnel and others celebrating at one of the Interflex training sites in England this year. Ukrainian flags will also appear above Downing Street and several Whitehall buildings. The Prime Minister’s official residence at No 10 Downing Street is among the buildings where a flag will fly on Sunday.

A Government spokesperson said: “We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, including those who have made a second home here in the UK, in the face of continued Russian aggression. Our support for Ukraine’s independence will be clear for all to see, which is why the Prime Minister travelled to Washington DC this week to work with allies to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”

Among the buildings where a flag will be flown are the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall, the Treasury building at 100 Parliament Street, the Scotland Office and Wales Office, and the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence main buildings.

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