From Ukraine to Salisbury Plain... and now back again
Troops trained to use long range weapons in Britain are eager to return and defend their homeland
As the Ukrainian soldiers strike their target, a rallying cry can be heard. But this is not the Donbas, this is Salisbury Plain, where the British Army is training Ukrainians to fire multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) and light guns to fight back against the Russians.
“When they get it right they cheer,” said Warrant Officer 1 Rebecca Bullock, who has been working alongside troops on the L119, a 105mm gun gifted to the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the Government.
The 40-year-old Master Gunner, of the Royal Artillery Capability assurance team, said it had been a privilege to train with the Ukrainians, who are professional rocket artillerymen, and to see their impressive work effort.
“They just work, work, work,” she said. “Their motivation to be quick and to learn, is incredible. They don’t really take many breaks. They are here to learn.”
She added that the soldiers are keen to return to Ukraine “as soon as possible”. “They are not here to do anything but train.”
In the words of one Ukrainian commander at Salisbury: “Our Ukrainian guys are in combat mood and are ready to return back.”
Personnel from the Royal Artillery Regiment have trained – with the help of translators – dozens of Ukrainians in heavy artillery in a concentrated course over three weeks.
The MLRS are being provided to Ukraine in response to requests from the Ukrainian armed forces for longer range precision weapons to defend themselves from the Russian heavy artillery which has been used to devastating effect in the eastern Donbas region.
While training on such equipment for British soldiers would ordinarily take five weeks, the training has been condensed in order to send the Ukrainians back to the front line as soon as possible.
Ukrainian commanders, who could not be named for security reasons, said they are looking into how the rocket systems, which have the capability to reach targets 52 miles away, can deter the Russian advances in the Donbas.
Capt James Oliphant, who oversaw
‘A month ago, all of the Ukrainian troops here were on the battlefield… they are so motivated to continue’
‘This system is much better for us to use against the Russians. It is about its mobility, its speed and accuracy’
the training, likened their eagerness to deploy their newly learnt skills to a child riding a bike: “They don’t want you holding onto the back of the seat anymore.
“They are very much at the point where they just want to get back and start operating that equipment.”
Capt Oliphant said British troops worked alongside the Ukrainian soldiers from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week.
He said that as the troops became more attuned and accustomed to operating the weapons, “we are now in a position where the battle commander himself is exercising his troops and we are able to take a step back and just be there for safety”.
So far, more than 450 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by the British on a mixture of MLRS, L119 light guns, air defence and surveillance and target acquisition in recent weeks.
The importance of British troops training Ukrainians has not been missed by those soldiers who will soon be returning to fight. One Ukrainian commander said: “When other armed services realise we have such MLRS systems, such warfare, they will be aware of the strong motivation, infantry, artillery. That is so critical for all of us. Not only for the armed forces, but for all of the Ukrainian people, just to understand that we are powerful.”
It is that sense of power that continues to push the Ukrainians forward in their battle against Russia.
However, the long hours and constant training does take its toll, with the commander admitting his soldiers were fatigued.
“A month ago, all of the Ukrainian troops who are here were on the battlefield… the only word I can use to describe the feeling is tiredness,” he said. “They are really tired. In the beginning, they were a bit scared about the situation. Now they are just tired.
“But in the same way, they are so motivated to continue their struggle.”
The training has also enhanced their belief in their ability to triumph over Moscow’s army.
“We are confident we will have the possibility to win using these systems,” the commander added, noting that the “tactical characteristics of these systems are much better than our Ukrainian systems”.
“It is much better for us to use against the Russians,” he said.
“It is about its mobility and its speed and the accuracy of this system and the survivability of this and the Ukrainian troops.”
Capt Oliphant added that there were differences “culturally” between the British and Ukrainian troops, and that their tactics and doctrines differ slightly.
“But we put that to one side and concentrate on the technical aspects of operating the system,” he said.
“We speak a common language even though we don’t speak Ukrainian, there’s a common language that has brought us together.”