Ukrainian commanders told The Times that soldiers from Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS) are training Ukrainian troops in Kyiv on how to use anti-tank weapons provided by London.
According to the accounts of the commanders, the British troops arrived in Kyiv about two weeks ago to begin the training on Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons, known as NLAWs. The UK started sending NLAWs to Ukraine shortly after Russia invaded on February 24.
The revelation of the SAS training mission is the first report of a NATO member having a military presence in Ukraine since Russia invaded, and it could risk provoking Moscow. In a diplomatic letter to the US last week, Russia warned NATO to stop arming Ukraine, and Russian officials have said US and NATO vehicles transporting weapons inside the country would be considered “legitimate military targets.”
The British Ministry of Defense wouldn’t confirm the training mission, citing its position on not commenting on special operations. Since 2014, the US and its NATO allies had sent troops to Ukraine for training, but they were withdrawn in February before the invasion.
Captain Yuriy Myronenko, one of the Ukrainian commanders who spoke with The Times, said the British training was necessary since new recruits and returning veterans had no experience with the NLAWs. “British officers were here two weeks ago in our unit and they trained us really good,” Myronenko said.
Last week, the US announced an additional $800 million in military aid for Ukraine. Included in the package for the first time are 155mm Howitzers and advanced radar systems that the Pentagon plans to train Ukrainian troops on how to use. But rather than send US troops into Ukraine, the training is expected to happen in a NATO country in Eastern Europe.
Russia knows their names and their whereabouts. Non of them will leave the ukraine alive, that’s for sure.
Go out to fight, then when things go bad just jump across the border to a NATO country where you’re safe from attack, rest and refit, then go back into the fight? So Ukraine gets a pass for using Poland as a giant ‘human shield’? There is no honor in that and they should be ashamed of themselves.
As for the UK- or ANY US/NATO- troops in Ukraine in any capacity, I would say to the Russians by all means take them alive if possible and put them on trial as terrorists. The same goes for mercenaries of any nation captured.
In fairness, the Russians complain when the Ukrainians attack targets inside Russia. If Poland shouldn’t be a safe area for the Ukrainians, why should Russia be a safe area for the Russians?
Makes sense. All it does is make for more unity among Russian citizens.
Furthermore, while the support for Washington looks broad, it’s wispy thin, and the fund of hatred rages intense and deep. None but its lackeys look on its military actions in the last 40 yrs with ought but loathing.
“Go out to fight, then when things go bad just jump across the border to Belarus where you’re safe from attack, rest and refit, then goback into the fight?”
Do you see any difference between Poland or Belarus?
I don’t.
Great more targets to take out! Never did like the British all that much!
You only like drunk, dirty and smelly Ruskies, don’t you?
UK is now a billigerent. By setting foot in a war zone. Active in training the Ukraine military that is fighting Russia. Some are going to die.
Yes, a lot of russian T-72 tank crews are going to heaven.
So they think Russian intelligence is incompetent and has been proven right otherwise they wouldn’t have put their people in harm’s way.ground rules have already been set and Russians taking out British volunteers within Ukraine and lack of retaliation has proven that, so, they were pretty sure Russia will not learn of this
THE SAD TRUTH ABOUT RUSSIA’S FLAGSHIP MOSKVA:
An anonymous conscript survivor was in tears as he told his mother of at least 40 crew members killed at the time, with “many missing” and maimed with lost limbs after a missile strike by the Ukrainians.
Parents of another conscript say they have found out some 200 were wounded – many with horrific burns and other major injuries.
The new accounts strongly dispute the official Russian version of the loss of Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea Fleet flagship. It remains unclear how many of the crew survived the sinking amid claims the dead may run into the hundreds. Russia has not revealed any information about survivors.
The young sailor who witnessed the carnage on the Moskva was revealed by Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s leading investigative media outlet, now operating from outside the country after being gagged by Putin.
“My son called me as soon as they all were given phones [after being rescued].
Their own documents and phones were on the [sunken] cruiser. He called me, and he cried over what he had seen. It was horrendous. Clearly not everyone survived.”
She said: “Most of the wounded have limbs torn off, because of the explosions from both the missiles and the detonated ammunition.”