More than 5,700 have already completed the training and returned to Ukraine since the program was announced in June, the Defense Ministry said.
In total, the United Kingdom, which has provided significant military aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, has offered to train 19,000 Ukrainian civilians on its soil.
When AFP visited the training site on Tuesday, near Durrington (South), none of the recruits present had military experience.
They took part in shooting and first aid drills on the battlefield, as part of their five-week training designed to turn them into soldiers.
Among these future soldiers, a former engineer, who now bears the code name Panda.
“Before the invasion, I was a normal civilian. But afterwards, it was no longer possible, I could no longer live as a civilian. So I joined the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he said. he told AFP.
“Our British and Ukrainian instructors gave us tactical, medical and psychological training. They taught us the international law on warfare,” explained this Ukrainian. “I’m ready to go to the battlefield and put everything I’ve learned into practice.”
The training builds on initial UK infantry training.
It is aimed at recruits with little or no military experience.
More than 1,000 members of the British Army, Royal Air Force, Navy take part in the programme.
Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, have notably joined the formation.
– “More offensive” –
“The two main skills we need to teach them are how to survive on a battlefield and also how to get the most kills in close combat,” said Lt. Col. Kempley Buchan-Smith, commander of the fifth battalion. Rifles.
“The training program covers a wide variety of operations. Clearly defensive operations are one aspect, but as you can see from the progress Ukraine is making right now in the east of the country, we have changed the nature of the program to be more offensive. So they are perfectly ready to continue these advances”, added the lieutenant-colonel.
“Training is necessary, especially in such a difficult and unpredictable situation. It is essential and very valuable for every soldier,” said one of the Ukrainian officers overseeing the training, which goes by its code name, Neptune.
Each soldier goes back to Ukraine with equipment. About 195,000 pieces have been donated so far, including helmets, clothing, boots, sleeping bags.
Since 2015, British troops have trained more than 22,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This training for civilians “represents a logical step in British assistance to Ukraine”, for the Ministry of Defense.
The UK “has pledged to provide military aid to Ukraine to the tune of 2.3 billion pounds (2.62 billion euros), more than any other country apart from the United States”, recalls this ministry.
