Australian, New Zealand armies training Ukrainian Soldiers in U.K.
Tom Abke
For their fight against Russian invaders, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are being trained by the Australian and New Zealand armies in a range of battlefield activities, including weapons handling and firing, urban and forest combat, trench warfare, and medical survival techniques. As part of the United Kingdom-led Operation Interflex, the training is taking place at British Army training sites in the U.K.
The multinational effort has trained more than 10,000 Ukrainians for combat against Russian forces, with participation by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden. The U.K. launched the initiative in 2015 in response to Russia’s unlawful seizure and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region a year before.
About 70 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel instructed 200 AFU troops in warfighting fundamentals in January and February 2023, using scenarios that mimic the circumstances in Ukraine, according to the Australian Department of Defence, known as Defence. (Pictured: Australian Army Soldiers demonstrate trench warfare tactics to Ukrainian troops during Operation Interflex training in the United Kingdom in February 2023.)
“Many of us have already seen combat during the Russo-Ukraine war but, no less, we have been so impressed by the level of knowledge from the Australian instructors who came here,” a Ukrainian commander, who was not identified due to security concerns, said in a Defence news release.
The ADF contingent was from the Australian Army’s First Brigade, a combined arms formation first assembled in 1903.
After completing training February 24, 2023 — coincidentally, the first anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of their nation — the Ukrainian Soldiers returned home to join their units.
Interflex will train an additional 20,000 Ukrainian recruits in 2023, U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament in January, with three more deployments to follow the ADF.
New Zealand joined Operation Interflex in August 2022 and weeks later deployed 120 Soldiers to train Ukrainian recruits in the U.K. Wellington has committed the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to the operation until July 2023, according to an NZDF news release.
The New Zealand Army instructors provided instruction in tactical drills, range exercises and live field firing throughout the five-week program. Operational law, offensive and defensive operations, and marksmanship were also covered.
“Our personnel have been as motivated to provide this training as have been the AFU recruits to learn,” Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Rear Adm. Jim Gilmour said in a December 2022 news release. “With so much at stake, our professional soldiers have turned groups of motivated individuals into capable ones, who will soon be applying everything they have learned to Ukraine’s defense.”
Australia and New Zealand are contributing to Ukraine’s defense in multiple ways. Canberra has provided more than U.S. $437 million in assistance to Kyiv, including 90 Bushmaster armored vehicles valued at U.S. $317 million. Australia’s humanitarian assistance totals U.S. $43 million.
The NZDF has provided Ukraine with information analysis and logistical support, and an aircraft to transport donated military aid. New Zealand also gave U.S. $37 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to aid Ukrainians.
Tom Abke is a FORUM contributor reporting from Singapore.
IMAGE CREDIT: AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE DEPARTMENT
