The new troops, operating in groups of around 200, arrive daily from Ukraine to take part in a specially concentrated training program delivered by British soldiers. They will then return to their homeland to fight the invading forces of Russia. British commanders aim to have 2,400 recruits rotating through the course at any one time as they mobilize to meet their target of training 10,000 Ukrainian personnel within 120 days. With Ukraine losing up to 200 soldiers every 24 hours in its war with Russia, the ability to generate manpower is vital. These are “battle casualty replacements,” a senior officer said. Carrying out the training program in the UK gives recruits the opportunity to learn from British soldiers and – most importantly – protects them from the threat of Russian attacks. A Ukrainian training facility was hit in an airstrike last month as a number of trainees were preparing to travel to Britain, a Ukrainian officer has revealed. “We believe so [a] The Russian military establishment knew we were going to the UK to study and train our soldiers and that’s why they airstrike our base,” said the 26-year-old lieutenant, who asked not to be named. He was speaking at a training camp in northwest England, where British soldiers are teaching about 600 new recruits basic infantry skills as part of the new training mission. Read more: Hit, hit, destroy: Russia’s scare tactics What will happen to the Donbass now that Lugansk has fallen to Russia? Vladimir Putin’s warning that Russia has only just begun to act Image: Defense Secretary Ben Wallace visited Ukrainian soldiers. Photo: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022 The Ministry of Defense has asked Sky News and other news organizations to keep the location secret for security reasons. Ben Wallace, the defense secretary and a possible candidate to become the next prime minister, visited the site on Thursday to meet recruits and speak to commanders. “Training matters,” he said in an interview during the trip. “When you’re at war and you’re against Russia, you have to make sure you can be the best you can be and that’s the process we’re doing here.” “Many recruits had never touched a gun before” It meant that the UK could provide training for even more than the target of 10,000 recruits. “If the Ukrainians ask for more, we will be open to more,” Mr Wallace said. Asked how many more, he said: “We could do thousands and thousands.” With speed a priority, given that their country is at war, Ukrainian recruits turn into infantry at a much faster rate than any British recruit in peacetime. It usually takes six months to pass basic infantry training for soldiers in the UK. The Ukrainians are due to take turns within a few weeks. They are taught a number of skills, including how to shoot straight, how to survive in the open, and how to deal with blast and bullet injuries. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 3:20 The battle for the demining of Ukraine Aged between 18 and 60, many of the recruits had never touched a gun before. They were civilians who made the decision to join the military only in the last few days and weeks. The majority of recruits were male, but one unit was said to be 20% female. One of the new partners was a 34-year-old e-commerce manager. “I was sitting at my desk and I was relaxed and I used to drink my coffee, do my routine all day and everything has changed since February 24,” said the recruit, a father of one. “It took time to make sure my family and loved ones are safe, but right now I’m ready to stand and do whatever I can to protect everything that’s precious to me.” “Excellent levels of motivation” British trainers said the Ukrainians’ motivation levels were excellent, with the new troops working from 6am to 10.30pm every day, seven days a week. Sky News watched as one group of trainees received instructions on how to load AK rifles, while another group took turns to fire live rounds at targets on a range. British instructors, accompanied by Ukrainian interpreters, shouted orders to shoot the cardboard soldiers standing about 200 meters away in a field. “Ready!” shouted an instructor as the recruits lay on the ground with their weapon. “Ten shots, center target, in your own fire time!” said the instructor, prompting the Ukrainians to let rip. A second instructor said their aim was pretty bad at first, but after a few days the majority of shots—about 80 percent—were hitting the spot. “For these guys it’s the first time some of them have touched a weapon system, so I’d say they’re either on par or getting there,” said Lt. Philip Lourens, 28. Image: Ukrainian soldiers train with 3 Rifles in the UK. Photo: ©MoD Crown Copyright 2022 Like several trainers, he was part of a training mission the UK provided to Ukrainian forces inside Ukraine before Russia launched its all-out war earlier this year. The count indicated that he would rather help Ukraine once again than remotely. “One hundred percent,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not up to me, but I’d love to go out there with them. We see them as brothers in arms here. We’d see them as brothers anywhere.” Principle of “survival to adapt” The trainer to trainee ratio that the UK can offer is around 1:10 or 1:15 – much higher than what they would get in Ukraine. The training is delivered by the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Justin Stenhouse. He said it is key to teach recruits how to deal with the two main threats they will face on the front lines in Ukraine: Russian artillery and trench warfare. This meant the course was built around a “survive to adapt” principle, Brigadier Stenhouse said. “For them to learn the first few weeks of combat as quickly as they can, aggressiveness and trust in their basic training, we have what will keep them alive and allow them to enter the fight.” he added.
