Ukraine soldiers in training at secret UK location

Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in a mock village built at a location in East Anglia

Two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers are being trained by allied forces at a specially constructed combat-training camp in a secret location in the East of England.

Operation Interflex is the code name given to the UK Armed Forces’ training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their country’s Russian invaders.

“The will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was”, says Col James Thurston, the British Army commander who is leading the operation.

Some of those involved have spoken to the BBC as the war continues.

‘Hard and fast’

L/Cpl Biggs says the training is ‘definitely beneficial’ for the Ukrainian soldiers

L/Cpl Biggs, 29, who is originally from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment.

He is working with military colleagues from Australia to train Ukrainian soldiers in a mock village built in the secret location in East Anglia.

“Their job is pretty much to clear [the village] – building by building,” he says.

The five-week training course is “definitely hard and fast”, he adds.

Military personnel from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and the Netherlands are working on the operation, which is taking place across several locations in the UK.

“The training we are delivering is definitely beneficial, and is making an impact when they get back [to Ukraine], because they are highly trained and [will be] able to fight all the better,” he adds.

‘Our spirit is strong’

Ihora says he will take the ‘positive experiences’ back home with him to Ukraine

Ihora, which is not his real name, has been a serving soldier in Ukraine for 10 years and before coming to the UK had been “taking part in freeing Kharkiv Oblast region”, he says.

He adds that he and his colleagues have “only positive experiences” from the training so far.

While he has “very extensive previous experience”, Ihora says the “most beneficial” parts of the course involve “urban working… as well as clearing trenches”.

Speaking about his relatives back home, he says: “I worry for my family, however our national spirit is very strong and we got together as a nation – and we do believe [in] the victory – and we’re moving forward towards it.”

‘Wolves are at the door’

Sgt May says the training is ‘incredibly important’ for the war effort

Sgt May has been in the British Army for 11 years, and is currently running the platoon sergeants’ battle course as part of Operation Interflex.

Sgt May, 31, who is originally from Newmarket, Suffolk, served in Afghanistan and has since trained army personnel from around the world.

The training course is “incredibly important”, he says.

Australian military members are among those training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK

“The Ukrainians, in a matter of weeks, are going to go back to the front line – so anything we can do to help is good.”

He adds: “The wolves [are] at their door already, so the realism shows that each and every one of them is willing to learn the tactics that we are implementing.”

‘We feel the support’

Translator Anastiia says the skills learned in the UK are ‘precious’

Anastiia, who is from Ukraine, is in the UK working as a military interpreter.

“First of all, in general, we feel your support,” she says.

“We feel the support of the outside world. So, this is helpful and when we are back to Ukraine, we will stay with the feeling.

“And as for a practical side of course, it’s a good chance to develop [our] tactical judgement. Those skills are really precious for us.”

‘Putin’s objective has failed’

Col James Thurston is leading Operation Interflex

Col James Thurston, who is the commander of the operation, says: “It’s an incredibly rewarding task and I’m really honoured to be the mission commander.

“But more importantly for Ukraine – and it is important for a number of reasons – at the strategic level, President Putin’s objective was to divide the West and split us apart.

“What you see here on Operation Interflex is nations that have come together to work collaboratively to train Ukraine.

“That coming together shows that Putin has failed in that strategic objective.”

He adds: “What I’d say is the mindset, the mentality, and the will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was.”

The training is taking place at a secret location

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