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UK troops on ground in Ukraine, training soldiers: Report

A Ukrainian soldier fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, February 15, 2022. (Photo by AP)

British troops are reportedly on the ground in Kiev, training Ukrainian forces in the war with Russia.

Citing two Ukrainian commanders, The Times reported that British Special Forces had trained their troops on two occasions over the past fortnight.

“We have received huge military help from Britain,” Captain Yuriy Myronenko told the newspaper. “British officers were here two weeks ago in our unit and they trained us really good. And because we have had successes, we have self-confidence now.”

The commander said the soldiers had been learning how to use British-supplied NLAW anti-tank missile launchers by watching YouTube videos.

Britain first sent military trainers to Ukraine after conflict began in Crimea in 2014. It said that it had pulled its forces out of the country in February in order to avoid the possibility of a direct conflict with Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered a military campaign in Ukraine.

Ever since, Britain has delivered more than 3,600 next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapons (NLAWs) to Ukraine, with Kiev requesting more.

Britain's Ministry of Defense has refused to comment on the activities of the Special Forces.

The presence of British forces on the ground in Ukraine came despite warnings from Russia that shipments of sensitive weapons from the United States and NAOT to Ukraine were exacerbating tensions and could lead to “unpredictable consequences,” according to The Washington Post.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who visited Kiev earlier this week, was eager to ramp up the amount of arms being sent to Ukraine.

Britain has sent £450 million in weaponry and £400m of economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine since the conflict began.


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