Latest news with #OperationInterflex
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Young Ukrainian soldier dies at UK military barracks as MoD issues statement over ‘immensely sad' tragedy
The young recruit was found on Wednesday evening TROOP DEATH Young Ukrainian soldier dies at UK military barracks as MoD issues statement over 'immensely sad' tragedy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A UKRAINIAN soldier has been found dead at a training base in the UK. The unnamed recruit was discovered at a barracks in East Anglia on Wednesday night. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A young Ukrainian soldier has been found dead at a UK barracks Credit: Getty Emergency services raced to the scene but were unable to resuscitate him. The Sun understands the death is not being treated as suspicious. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, was discovered by comrades at around 8pm in a room used to dry wet clothes. Civilian police and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, was one of over 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers who have been trained in the UK, as part of Operation Interflex, to defend their country against Russia. The troops learn infantry tactics, trench warfare and how to defend themselves from drones in an intense five week course. The Sun has not revealed the location of the camp as some bases used to train Ukrainian troops have been targeted by Russian spies. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'It is with immense sadness that we can confirm the death of a Ukrainian soldier in the UK on June 4, 2025."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Young Ukrainian soldier dies at UK military barracks as MoD issues statement over ‘immensely sad' tragedy
A UKRAINIAN soldier has been found dead at a training base in the UK. The unnamed recruit was discovered at a barracks in East Anglia on Wednesday night. 1 A young Ukrainian soldier has been found dead at a UK barracks Credit: Getty Emergency services raced to the scene but were unable to resuscitate him. The Sun understands the death is not being treated as suspicious. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, was discovered by comrades at around 8pm in a room used to dry wet clothes. Civilian police and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, was one of over 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers who have been trained in the UK, as part of Operation Interflex, to defend their country against Russia. The troops learn infantry tactics, trench warfare and how to defend themselves from drones in an intense five week course. The Sun has not revealed the location of the camp as some bases used to train Ukrainian troops have been targeted by Russian spies. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'It is with immense sadness that we can confirm the death of a Ukrainian soldier in the UK on June 4, 2025." Most read in The Sun
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Young Ukrainian soldier dies at UK military barracks as MoD issues statement over ‘immensely sad' tragedy
A UKRAINIAN soldier has been found dead at a training base in the UK. The unnamed recruit was discovered at a barracks in East Anglia on Wednesday night. 1 Emergency services raced to the scene but were unable to resuscitate him. The Sun understands the death is not being treated as suspicious. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, was discovered by comrades at around 8pm in a room used to dry wet clothes. Civilian police and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, was one of over 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers who have been trained in the UK, as part of Operation Interflex, to defend their country against Russia. The troops learn infantry tactics, trench warfare and how to defend themselves from drones in an intense five week course. The Sun has not revealed the location of the camp as some bases used to train Ukrainian troops have been targeted by Russian spies. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'It is with immense sadness that we can confirm the death of a Ukrainian soldier in the UK on June 4, 2025."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK to invest millions to ramp up drone deliveries to Ukraine
The United Kingdom is investing a record £350 million (US$472 million) this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025. Source: European Pravda, citing the UK Ministry of Defence Details: Last year, the UK supplied over 10,000 drones to Ukraine. In the current financial year, tens of thousands have already been provided, and Britain has set a new goal – to provide 100,000 drones to Ukraine in 2025. The record-breaking £350 million investment in drones is part of the UK's wider military aid package totalling £4.5 billion for this year. The Ministry of Defence noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have demonstrated high efficiency in drone warfare. As a result, the UK has doubled its investment in drones, working with British defence companies, including small and medium-sized companies. The ministry also stated that at today's meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein format), UK Defence Secretary John Healey will announce an additional £247 million for training Ukrainian forces under Operation Interflex. In addition, Healey will confirm that the UK will complete the supply of 140,000 artillery shells for Ukraine from the beginning of 2025. The UK will also contribute £40 million to NATO's NSATU trust fund for Ukraine to continue training and supply of equipment for Ukrainian troops. Background: In March, the drone coalition allocated €20 million to procure tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine. Norway, as recently reported, has also agreed to redirect a larger share of its support funds towards the production of Ukrainian-made drones. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Times
Inside the hidden UK base training Ukrainians for shock and gore of war
Animal organs from the local slaughterhouse are sometimes hung from the fences. Amputees play the role of the injured, screaming for their mothers as the cacophony of gunfire blasts from speakers and drones circle the skies. British military trainers on Operation Interflex, the mission to train Ukrainian forces, are trying to prepare their comrades for the horrors they might face on the battlefield against Russia. 'We are not running these dry and empty-feeling exercises. We are trying to make it look and sound and maybe even smell like a battlefield,' said Lieutenant Colonel Ben Irwin-Clark, the commanding officer in charge of the bespoke training, on an undisclosed military base in East Anglia. The soldiers are preparing to be ready for every eventuality in battle TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE Before deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Irwin-Clark, of the Irish Guards, used to take his platoon to watch port-mortem examinations at the mortuary so they could get used to seeing dead bodies. Many of the Ukrainians at the base will soon be flown back to Poland before travelling to eastern Ukraine. They wanted a spot on the five-week course in Britain because they believed it would increase their chances of survival. Irwin-Clark has no doubt. 'I think the training they receive here will definitely make them more survivable,' he said. As well being taught how to survive, the Ukrainians learn about 'lethality' — how to defeat the enemy with less manpower and equipment — and offensive spirit, a sort of battle-winning mindset. One of those on the section commander course at the base, an experienced soldier and the father of a 13-year-old boy, goes by the call sign Rocky. He signed up after witnessing the impact of the training on some of his comrades on the battlefield in Ukraine. Although he has been fighting since the beginning of the full war in February 2022, he believes he has more to learn. TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE British military trainers, working alongside other nations, have already taught him more advanced medical training and a different way of conducting assaults. Russian forces, meanwhile, shoot dead their injured so they can advance, he said, wearing a scarf to mask his identity. Many of President Putin's troops are given just ten days of training before being pushed to the front as cannon fodder, according to defence intelligence. A 26-year-old soldier whose call sign is Willow said he will be back in the Donbas region next week. 'Donbas, for ever,' he said. How does he feel about that? 'Absolutely great. I love Ukraine.' Another Ukrainian, who has the call sign Fox because of this ability to get anywhere, said: 'I've seen everything. There are things I can't speak about. As we always say, the war is the most scary thing.' For him, training in Britain, away from the sounds of air raid sirens, gives him a chance to concentrate on learning new skills. 'Thanks to Great Britain and all the help and support you provide. We will do our best to move in the direction of victory,' he said. More than 54,000 Ukrainians have been trained in the UK as part of Operation Interflex, which began nearly three years ago. About 130 flights come in and out of the UK every six months. What they learn in five weeks is what the British Army typically takes six months to achieve. For them, speed is essential. There are various courses, from basic training which turns ordinary civilians into soldiers, to commander courses for hardened warriors. On the latest course there is a husband and wife, ready to fight for their nation's survival. None of the Ukrainians at the base are allowed to be named in case Russia targets them or their families. The location remains a secret because of fears of an attack like the one ofSergei Skripal, the double agent who was poisoned by Russia in Salisbury in March 2018. There are concerns that some of the British trainers could suffer from 'survivor's guilt' after six months spent training Ukrainians, who head to into war while they remain safe. Such personnel now take a stress management course before they begin the training. TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE As the Ukrainians depart on coaches afterwards, the British soldiers and their international partners line their route out and salute them. Colonel Andy Boardman, commander of Operation Interflex, said: 'It's sort of our way of saying, 'Good luck, we've given you the best training that we can and we are supporting you.' There's a sense from some of our soldiers that they'd love to be on the coach, going with them to join in.' Irwin-Clark said the Ukrainians were fighting a war so Britain does not have to. 'I am under no illusion that they are the keepers of the keys of Europe, they're the guardians on the gate,' he said. 'That is one of the underlying reasons why we all feel pretty motivated about what we are doing. To no small degree, I feel like they're fighting for us.' TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE
