British Soldiers Give Ukrainian Warfighters Notable Send-Off: United24.media (@United24media) on Tuesday shared a short video on social media that showed the send-off its warfighters received as they prepared to return home after training in the United Kingdom with the British Army.
A video has surfaced of British soldiers bidding farewell to their Ukrainian colleagues who were going back to the frontlines after training in the UK. Solidarity will overcome all. pic.twitter.com/oY8qzSink1
— UNITED24.media (@United24media) April 11, 2023
“A video has surfaced of British soldiers bidding farewell to their Ukrainian colleagues who were going back to the frontlines after training in the UK. Solidarity will overcome all,” the Ukraine state-affiliated media outlet said via the post on Twitter.
Several dozen British soldiers could be seen lining a roadway saluting a pair of buses that carried the Ukrainian soldiers to the airport. A number of British soldiers also held up the blue and gold flag of Ukraine, a true sign of solidarity.
As of last June, Ukrainians have been undergoing military training in the UK. It was announced that the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) set a goal to train upwards of 10,000 people every 120 days. Already the “first batch” of civilian volunteers has been trained, while another 10,000 are set to undergo similar training. This includes a five-week program where recruits are taught the international laws of armed conflict, trench warfare, urban fighting, weapon handling and firing, medical training, and dealing with explosives.
Instructors have come from not only the UK, but also from other NATO members and partner states.
Pilot and Marine Training
In February, following meetings between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the MoD extended training to pilots and marines.
Such training will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future, while Ukrainian forces have recently concluded training in the UK on how to operate the Challenger 2 main battle tank (MBT).
“Since 2014, the UK has provided vital training to Ukrainian forces, allowing them to defend their country, protect their sovereignty and fight for their territory,” said Prime Minister Sunak in February. “I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring Ukraine has a military able to defend its interests well into the future. It also underlines our commitment to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come.”
Inspected by the King
It was also in February that the Ukrainian recruits – reported to have been taking part in trench warfare training at an undisclosed location in Wiltshire, Southwest England – received a very special guest. While being put through the paces, they were visited by King Charles III, who was accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff Sir Patrick Sanders.
“You are amazing, I don’t know how you do it,” the King told one of the senior officers. “I am full of admiration.”
King Charles also took time to chat with about 20 Ukrainian recruits, many of whom had left their civilian jobs to join the army. They will now return home – possibly with better combat skills than their Russian conscript counterparts.
Just last month, the first batch of Challenger 2 MBTs also arrived in Ukraine, while the first set of tank crews completed their training.
Those tanks will likely be employed as part of the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive later this spring.
Author Experience and Expertise:
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
