Britain is set to boost its support for Ukrainian forces with robust training programmes in line with new plans discussed with military officials, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has revealed.
Mr Shapps told the Telegraph he has held talks about the possibility of moving more British-led ‘training and production’ operations into Ukraine instead of relying on bases within the UK and those in other NATO countries.
He has also called for more British defence firms to set up factories in Ukraine after he took an official trip to the country’s capital, Kyiv, last week, and revealed he has discussed ways in which the British Navy could help to defend Ukrainian commercial vessels in the Black Sea with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
So far, the UK and other NATO members have avoided deployments of troops to Ukraine to avoid being drawn into combat with Russia.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (L) shaking hands with British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (R) during their meeting in Kyiv this week
A serviceman belonging to Battalion 42 of Brigade 57 of Ukrainian army shoots a machine gun during training at a shooting range in an undisclosed location in Donbas, Donetsk
An assault unit commander from the 3rd Assault Brigade who goes by the call sign ‘Fedia’ raises the Ukrainian flag as a symbol of liberation of the frontline village of Andriivka, Donetsk region
Mr Shapps told the Telegraph: ‘I was talking today about eventually getting the training brought closer and actually into Ukraine as well.
‘Particularly in the west of the country, I think the opportunity now is to bring more things in country – not just training, but also we’re seeing BAE [the UK defence firm], for example, move into manufacturing in country, for example.
‘I think there will be a move to get more training and production in the country.’
Since the start of 2022, more than 20,000 recruits from the Ukrainian armed forces have received basic British Army training in the UK as part of the British-led Operation Interflex.
Basic training involves surviving in a hostile environment; troops are taught skills like basic fieldcraft and medical care, as well as marksmanship and weapon handling.
The training has also been adapted to reflect what is needed on the ground – essentially trench warfare.
He also suggested the UK is preparing to utilise the Navy to help Ukraine better defend itself against attacks in the Black Sea, particularly amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian cargo ships.
‘Britain is a naval nation so we can help and we can advise, particularly since the water is international water’, he said.
Mr Shapps has held talks about the possibility of moving a British-led training programme into Ukraine instead of relying on bases within the UK and other those in other NATO countries
Putin ‘s close ally, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that Russia ‘s invasion will fight on
The Russian President marked ‘Reunification Day’ as he pledged that ‘nothing and no-one’ will stop him
‘It’s important that we don’t allow a situation to establish by default that somehow international shipping isn’t allowed in that water.’
It comes after a top ally of Russian President Vladmir Putin vowed that Russia will invade more of Ukraine as Moscow on Saturday celebrated the anniversary of its illegal annexation of four Ukrainian territories.
Dmitry Medvedev declared that victory will soon be Russia’s, as the nation continues its ‘special military operation’ to completely obliterate the ‘Nazi Kyiv regime’.
His harrowing statement came one year after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson annexed by Moscow following a series of controversial local elections.
While the Kremlin claims these took place in ‘full accordance with international norms’, the referendums have been completely denounced by the West and were not internationally recognised.
‘The special military operation will continue until the Nazi Kyiv regime is completely destroyed and the original Russian territories are liberated from the enemy,’ Medvedev said.
‘Victory will be ours… And there will be more new regions within Russia.’
The Russian President also marked September 30 – now referred to as ‘Reunification Day’ – by pledging that ‘nothing and no-one’ will stop him in Moscow’s fight against Kyiv.
‘Nothing and no-one can break the will of millions of people, or their belief in truth and historical justice,’ Putin vowed.
‘The free and unequivocal choice of our brothers and sisters was wholeheartedly supported by the Russian people.
‘We understood and deeply felt the most important thing: by defending our compatriots in Donbas and Novorossiya, we are defending Russia itself.
‘Together, we are fighting for the Motherland, for our sovereignty, spiritual values, unity, and victory.
‘I thank all the citizens of the country for this solidarity and patriotism.’
