United to win: Ukrainian marines return after six months of amphibious training in Britain

Photo: general Staff of Ukraine's armed forces

Alvina Kaminska

Ukrainian marines are returning to Ukraine from amphibious training in Great Britain, where they spent half a year in training and were taught to plan and conduct raid operations.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported this.

What is the problem?

When Ukraine gained its independence, its military strength weakened significantly. This was especially noticeable when Russia invaded Donbas and Crimea in 2014, followed by a full–scale assault in February 2022.

Therefore, it is essential for Ukraine to develop its naval forces and an international concept of marine infantry training, the General Staff said.

What is the solution?

Back in February 2023, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Rishi Sunak announced the Ukrainian military's training during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Great Britain.

"Great Britain is leading the training of Ukraine's armed forces, providing modern combat training for more than 20,000 recruits of the Ukrainian Ground Forces as part of Interflex Operation. The training program, conducted by elite British special forces, will help Ukraine build its own marines and expand its capabilities on the water ", British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said.

How does it work?

Royal Marines and British Ground Forces special forces trained Ukrainian soldiers in amphibious operations and landing on land using inflatable boats.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

This is the first amphibious training program that Britain is conducting for Ukraine. Its culmination was the planning and conducting raid operations by Ukrainian marines day and night.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

About 900 Ukrainian marines completed the course.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

It included training in the use of:

• NLAW anti-tank systems,
• portable air defense systems Stinger,
• mortars,
• drones for reconnaissance,
• destruction of obstacles, for example, "dragon's teeth" using explosives.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

During the training, the same weapons are used, which, among other things, Great Britain provided to Ukraine within the framework of military support. These are more than 10,000 units of anti-tank weapons, including thousands of NLAW systems.

Instructors from the 42nd and 47th Marine Assault Units and Army Special Forces from the 24th Engineer Unit and the 29th Royal Artillery Unit conducted the training.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

Instructors from the Netherlands Marine Corps also took part in the training.

According to the Ukrainian marine, the British instructors were always there and showed how to move and work in a small team.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

"The training turned out to be much more intense than I expected. I never thought I would be doing what I did. It will affect how we act when we return to Ukraine," he said.

Each group went through a rigorous five-week program that developed the following:

• individual skills of stay and survival in field conditions,
• first aid,
• melee,
• physical training,
• planning the unit's actions based on scenarios close to reality.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

More than 20,000 new Armed Forces recruits have already been trained in Great Britain since the beginning of 2022. They were taught basic military skills, including trench and urban warfare techniques, leadership skills, and medical training.

At the beginning of 2023, Britain undertook to train another 20,000 Ukrainian recruits – almost twice as many as last year – under one of the largest such programs in the world.

^{Photo: General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces}

In addition to combat skills, the United Kingdom provides medical training, pastoral care, spiritual support, and moral guidance.

Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden are supporting Interflex Operation and the training of the Marine Corps and the UK.

For reference:

The UK has committed €2.3 billion in further military support until the end of 2023, with additional munitions and equipment to be delivered in the coming months. Also, the British government continues its humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine.

It should be noted that military instructors from Lithuania went on the third Interflex international mission to train Ukrainian servicemen, which will be carried out in Britain.