Ukraine War: Aspiring Soldiers Learn from the British Army as they hone their skills on the Salisbury Plains | World News
More than 450 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in the UK in a variety of weapons such as multiple launch rocket systems – considered vital in the war against Russia.
Their urgent need to learn in times of war meant that the slow and steady teaching techniques used by British trainers for their soldiers in peacetime were quickly phased out.
Instead, units have raced through courses over the past few weeks on Salisbury Plains in Wiltshire and elsewhere.
‘Dirty money’ laundered in London financed Russia’s war – Ukraine lives
They know it could mean the difference between life and death as they return to the front lines in eastern Ukraine – a major motivating factor.
Captain James Oliphant, a British Army officer, helped run training on the Multiple Launch Missile System (MLRS), a large, maneuverable tracked wheeled weapon that fires 12 rockets at high speed. more than 50 miles away.
“It was a shock to us,” he said, speaking at the weekend, of Ukrainians’ hunger to learn.
“We have prepared the training program and training content based on our experience in training British soldiers.
“And when we found out that they were professional rocket launchers, the content of the course and the delivery became much easier.”
Ukrainian soldiers ‘in a fighting mood’
As well as training in more sophisticated weapons, the British government says it alone could have 10,000 Ukrainian troops train infantry in Britain every 120 days.
In the Salisbury Plains last weekend, the Ukrainian military learning how to operate the missile system worked in groups of three, moving the system around.
They didn’t shoot it.
“Our Ukrainians are in a fighting position,” said one Ukrainian officer, who asked not to be named.
“They’re ready to come back [to Ukraine]. We understand that we are here to prepare to improve the situation there.
“We’re confident it will help us in our struggles.”
The same enthusiasm holds true for a large group of Ukrainian soldiers training light batteries, with a shorter range of up to 7 miles, also in the Salisbury Plain.
“They knew their learning period was rather short, so the motivation to gain as much knowledge as possible was recognised,” said Rebecca Bullock, Warrant 1 Officer who is assisting with the training. create, said.
“They just work, work and work and they ask a lot of questions.”
‘Life is easy here’
An important issue is how to be as quick as possible, open fire and then move it to a safer place to avoid being fired back by the Russians.
Military commanders have called the battle in Donbas, eastern Ukraine “a fiery battle”, referring to the cannons used by one side to bring down the other.
Russia outperforms Ukraine by 20-1 in some areas.
That is why, from the president down, Ukrainian officials repeatedly ask Western allies for more heavy weapons.
Last Saturday, Ukrainian troops on the Salisbury Plain practiced shooting the L119 light gun after spending the previous five days learning about it.
They used live ammunition, fired 105mm shells at their targets and cheered whenever they hit the target.
This is the first time journalists have been allowed to participate in the training since it began.
A second Ukrainian officer said the drills were useful although he said being in Britain was a significant change from being in the middle of a war zone.
“Of course, life here is easy,” he said, requesting anonymity and speaking through a translator.
“For us, it was a change of our lives for a while.”
When asked if coming to the UK for training was like going on holiday, the officer said: “We are doing exercises and exercises.
“We don’t feel like we’re on vacation. The holiday will be for when we win the war in Ukraine.”
Kiwi troops support training
The Ukrainian soldiers wear black bulletproof vests and helmets to distinguish them from their trainers, a mix of British and New Zealand troops.
About 29 soldiers from New Zealand have come to the UK to assist with training as their troops are more familiar with the L119 light gun.
Read more:
‘Shameful’ actions by ministers still allow ‘dirty money’ of Russia to flow through UK
The Last Days of Lysychansk
What CCTV and satellite images tell us about missile attacks on shopping malls
The UK has purchased about 50 used weapons from a British company to supply the Ukrainian army. They are about to be deployed.
Britain is also sending several multiple launch missile systems to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday will announce £1 billion in additional military assistance to Ukraine, speaking at a NATO summit in Madrid. He also said the UK would train 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
