Operation Interflex

Operation Interflex is the operational code name for the British-led multinational military operation to train and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is a successor to Operation Orbital (2015–2022) and began in July 2022.^[1] Unlike its predecessor, Operation Interflex takes place within the United Kingdom and is supported by contingents from international partners.

Operation Interflex
Part of the foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Ukrainian recruits standing on a UK-supplied Challenger 2 main battle tank
Location	United Kingdom
Objective	Provide training and support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to help ensure Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Date	9 July 2022–present
Executed by	United Kingdom
Outcome	Ongoing

Background

Main article: Operation Orbital

Prior to the launch of Operation Interflex, the United Kingdom trained and supported the armed forces of Ukraine through Operation Orbital. This operation was launched in 2015 in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. Based in Ukraine, British military instructors, primarily from the British Army, provided training on medical, logistical, intelligence and infantry skills with the ultimate goal of ensuring Ukraine's territorial integrity. The operation ran concurrently with similar efforts of international partners in the Joint Multinational Training Group — Ukraine (JMTG-U).^[2]

In February 2022, amid a buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border, the UK supplied Ukraine with anti-tank weapons; training was provided for these as part of Operation Orbital.^[3] On 17 February 2022, the UK announced that Operation Orbital had been suspended due to fears of Russia launching a "no notice" attack.^[4] By its end, the operation had provided training to approximately 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel.^[5]

On 17 June 2022, during a visit to Kyiv, Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered Ukraine a new training programme, this time located within the UK, with the aim of training up to 10,000 Ukrainians every 120 days.^[6]

History

Operation Interflex began on 9 July 2022, led by the British Army's 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade. Approximately 1,050 British military personnel were placed on standby to assist with training, which is held at several sites across the UK.^[7] To assist with training, the UK government rapidly procured AK variant rifles, similar to those used by Ukrainian forces.^[8]

By 30 June 2022, approximately 450 Ukrainian troops had received training in the UK. This training reportedly focused on the use of UK-supplied weaponry, including M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems.^[9][10]

On 11 November 2022, it was reported that approximately 7,400 Ukrainian military personnel had completed training in the UK.^[11][12]

The training received has received praise by the Ukrainian military; according to Brigadier Justin Stenhouse, who oversees the training programme, one Ukrainian commander informed him about a recent frontline incident where 10 Ukrainian soldiers came under Russian attack but stood firm and “took the fight to the Russians, while the others took cover”. This inspired the rest of their platoon to join the fight and, after the Russians had been repelled, the commander asked them why they had done this, to which they replied: “This is what we were taught to do in UK training.”^[13]

The Royal Navy is also contributing to the programme with Ukrainians being trained in maritime skills, such as damage control, minehunting and weapon drills.^[14] In October 2022, Russia accused British naval specialists of providing "guidance and leadership" to Ukraine in its attacks against Sevastopol Naval Base on 29 October.^[15]

On 15 January 2023, the British government announced another package of military aid for Ukraine, which included 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. Ukrainians began arriving for training on the tanks in early February. During the same month, it was also announced that training would be expanded to marine infantry and fighter pilots.^[16] By 16 February 2023, British and international trainers had trained 10,000 Ukrainian recruits.^[17]

By 5 July 2023, 18,000 Ukrainian service personnel had been trained under Operation Interflex.^[18]

By 30 September 2023, approximately 20,000 Ukrainian service personnel had received training. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also disclosed that there were ongoing discussions on moving the British-led training programme "into Ukraine".^[19]

International assistance

 

A Ukrainian serviceman deployed to the UK.

On 4 August 2022, Canada joined New Zealand and the Netherlands in sending a contingent to assist with the UK-led training programme. Approximately 170 soldiers were sent to the UK under Operation UNIFIER, primarily from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.^[20] The New Zealand contingent initially amounted to around 29 troops, with their instruction focusing on the L118 light gun, donated by both the UK and New Zealand.^[10] It was later announced, on 15 August, that this contingent would be expanded by a further 120 troops to deliver infantry training.^[21]

The UK invited the member states of the UK Joint Expeditionary Force to contribute to the training programme; on 7 August 2022, Sweden accepted its invite and announced it would send 120 instructors.^[22] This was followed a day later by a commitment from Finland to send 20 instructors.^[23] On 10 August, Denmark further announced that it would join the training mission, sending 130 instructors.^[24] On 11 August, Germany, Latvia and Norway announced they would be joining the training progamme.^[25] Due to this, the UK announced it would be possible to train more Ukrainians than initially planned.^[26] On 18 August, Estonia announced joining the training mission.^[27] On 25 August, Lithuania announced that it would be providing 15 instructors in September and aiming to train up to 150 Ukrainian specialists through October.^[28]

On 27 October 2022, Australia announced it would be sending 70 military instructors to join the UK-led training programme from January 2023.^[29]

International contributions

Country	Contribution
Australia	70 instructors^[29]
Canada	170 instructors^[20]
Denmark	130 instructors^[24]
Estonia	Unknown^[27]
Finland	20 instructors^[23]
Germany	Unknown^[25]
Latvia	Unknown^[25]
Lithuania	25 instructors^[30]
Norway	150 instructors^[31]
Netherlands	90 instructors^[32]
New Zealand	149 instructors^[21]
Sweden	120 instructors^[22]

See also

• Ukraine–United Kingdom relations
• European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine
• Ukraine Defense Contact Group
• Operation Unifier

References

1. Gallardo, Cristina; Caulcutt, Clea (16 September 2022). "Ukraine's military recruits need training. Only one of Europe's giants is pulling its weight". Politico. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
2. "Operation ORBITAL explained: Training Ukrainian Armed Forces". Ministry of Defence. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
3. "Ukraine: Antitank Missiles". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
4. Sabbagh, Dan; Skopeliti, Clea (17 February 2022). "UK troops sent to help train Ukrainian army to leave country". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
5. "UK forces arrive to reinforce NATO's eastern flank". GOV.UK. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
6. "UK to offer major training programme for Ukrainian forces as Prime Minister hails their victorious determination". GOV.UK. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
7. "Russia-Ukraine war: UK training programme gets under way". BBC News. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
8. "Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visits Armed Forces of Ukraine as training programme starts across the UK". GOV.UK. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
9. Beale, Jonathan (30 June 2022). "Ukrainian troops getting weapons training in UK". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
10. Haynes, Deborah (30 June 2022). "Ukraine war: Soldiers hungry to learn from British Army as they sharpen skills on Salisbury Plain". Sky News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
11. "General Staff: Nearly 5000 Ukrainian soldiers have completed training in UK". The Kyiv Independent. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
12. Thomas, Richard (11 November 2022). "Operation Interflex: Ukrainian recruits prepare for war". Army Technology. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
13. Paul Rathbone, John (11 November 2022). "Ukrainian army recruits join British boot camp to prepare for combat". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
14. "Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister visits Royal Navy mine-hunting training as part of UK visit". GOV.UK. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
15. Osborne, Samuel (3 November 2022). "Russian ambassador has 'evidence' UK special forces involved in attack on Black Sea fleet". Sky News. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
16. "PM extends Ukraine military training to pilots and marines as President Zelenskyy makes first visit to the UK since Russian invasion". GOV.UK. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
17. Wilkinson, Tom (16 February 2023). "UK has helped train 10,000 Ukrainian volunteer soldiers". The Independent. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
18. "Ukraine: Military Aid". TheyWorkForYou. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
19. "Grant Shapps to send UK troops to Ukraine". Daily Telegraph. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
20. Nickel, Rod; Shakil, Ismail (4 August 2022). Wallis, Daniel (ed.). "Canada to help train Ukrainian recruits in United Kingdom". Reuters. from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
21. "NZDF to deploy to the UK in further support for Ukraine". New Zealand Defence Force. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
22. "Sweden to train Ukrainian soldiers in UK". Government Offices of Sweden. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
23. "Finland to provide training to Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of UK-led training programme". Ministry of Defence (Finland). 8 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
24. "Danske soldater skal træne ukrainere i krigen mod Rusland" [Danish soldiers to train Ukrainians for Russia war]. DR (in Danish). 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
25. "UK and allies agree expanded International Fund for Ukraine support". GOV.UK. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
26. "Defense secretary: UK is committed to train more Ukrainian troops than initially planned". CNN. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
27. Wright, Helen, ed. (18 August 2022). "Estonia sends more weapons to Ukraine, supports UK training program". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
28. "Lithuania will join Ukrainian military training in Britain in September". MIL.IN.UA. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
29. Staszewska, Ewa (27 October 2022). "Australian Defence Force to join Operation Interflex in the UK to help train Ukrainian soldiers to fight Russia". Sky News. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
30. Manuel, Rojoef (28 December 2022). "Lithuania, EU, UK Team Up to Train More Ukrainian Soldiers in 2023". The Defense Post. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
31. "Norge øker antall instruktører som skal trene ukrainske soldater". Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). 1 December 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
32. "Netherlands to continue training for Ukrainian recruits in the UK". Shepherd Media. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.