Ukraine War: Thousands of British Soldiers Sent to Europe to Fight Russian Aggression | UK News
Around 8,000 British troops will be sent to Eastern Europe to take part in military exercises aimed at countering Russian aggression.
The deployment – one of the largest to take place since the end of the Cold War – will have troops stationed in countries from Finland to North Macedonia.
Dozens of tanks and more than 100 armored fighting vehicles will also be sent to sites this summer under a plan that has been ramped up since the war in Ukraine began.
Live updates on the war in Ukraine
The armed forces will include tens of thousands of troops from NATO allies and the Expeditionary Force, including Denmark, Iceland and Norway.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the planned exercises would improve the ability of the British and Finnish militaries to work together to “prevent Russian aggression in Scandinavia and the Baltic states”.
Main developments:
- Ukraine names 10 Russian soldiers suspected of human rights violations
- Biden asks Congress for an additional $33 billion to help Ukraine
- Russia uses trained dolphins to protect Black Sea naval base – report
- Remembering the former British soldier killed in Ukraine
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the move would show “solidarity and strength”.
“The security of Europe has never been more important. These exercises will see our militaries join forces with allies and partners across NATO and the Expeditionary Force. to show solidarity and strength in one of the largest joint deployments since the Cold War.” he say.
Some of the exercises set up include parachuting, helicopter strikes against Challenger 2 tanks.
“Operating across Europe, the British Army will stand with our partners, combining our capabilities and shared values, promoting peace and security.”
The UK rollout is expected to peak at around 8,000 employees operating in mainland Europe between April and June.
Some of the exercises set up include parachuting, helicopter strikes against Challenger 2 tanks.
The exercises are intended to “demonstrate the scale and importance of the British Army’s contribution to the defense of Europe”, the MoD added.
Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse of the Army Field Command explained: “The UK has made a significant contribution to the defense of Europe and to the deterrence of Russian aggression. The British Army’s sequence of exercises is fundamental to both two.
Several tanks and armored vehicles are also being sent to Europe for exercises
“The scale of the deployment, coupled with the professionalism, training and agility of the British Army, will deter aggression on a scale not seen before in Europe this century.”
Exercises with US troops are also taking place in Poland.
The Ukrainian capital was attacked after the meeting between Zelenskyy and the UN secretary general
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv continued to be engulfed in flames, with at least one person killed and several others injured during Thursday night’s strike.
Rescue officials said some civilians were trapped under rubble after the Russian attack, which came shortly after a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Subscribe to the daily podcast onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify,Speaker
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the Shevchenkivskyi district, northwest of the city, had been hit twice, causing fires in at least two high-rise buildings.
Explosions have also been reported in Chernihiv, near the border with Belarus and Fastiv, in the central part of the country.
The Ukrainian authorities also announced that intense Russian fire in the Donbas – the eastern industrial center has become the main target of Russia.
Former British soldier killed in Ukraine as second British reported missing
It comes after a Former British soldier is believed to have been killed in Ukraine while fighting Russian forces.
Please use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
British killed in Ukraine
Tributes have been paid to Scott Sibley, 36, who was the first British citizen to be confirmed killed in the war.
A second British man, who was not named by Sky News, was reported missing in Ukraine after going there to fight.
At the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian government called in volunteers from around the world to assist its armed forces as they waged the invasion of Russia.
