As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the character of UK support is adapting to meet the battlefield’s most urgent demand: leadership.
Operation Interflex, the UK-led training mission for Ukrainian Armed Forces, has already trained more than 50,000 soldiers since 2022. What began as a five-week infantry course has since expanded to a seven-week programme, introducing modules on platoon and section command, instructor development, and battlefield leadership.
This evolution reflects the stark reality identified by General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE, Co-Chair of Universal Defence and Security Solutions, in a recent interview with BFBS Forces News:
“This latest shift echoes that this war is now in its fourth year, and Ukraine needs leaders. It needs officers and NCOs on the battlefield, as well as people who can follow them and do the fighting. One of the contributions the UK can really make well is training officers and NCOs.”
Why leadership matters now
Ukraine’s resilience depends not just on brave soldiers but on the leadership that enables effective decision-making, cohesion, and adaptation under fire. By investing in the development of officers and non-commissioned officers, Op Interflex ensures Ukraine’s Armed Forces are not only stronger today, but sustainable in the long term.
This leadership training is further reinforced by the extension of the mission until at least 2026, supported by a £4.5bn UK military financing package announced on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Mutual benefit for the UK
While designed primarily to support Ukraine, Op Interflex also strengthens Britain’s own defence capability. UK instructors work alongside Ukrainian trainers returning directly from the battlefield, gaining fresh insight into modern combat operations without deploying British troops into active conflict.
As General Barrons explained, this knowledge exchange could prove invaluable should UK forces be deployed in the future as part of a Reassurance Force to uphold a ceasefire.
A long-term commitment
The enduring lesson of Op Interflex is that training missions are not just about immediate operational needs – they are strategic investments in stability, resilience, and partnership. As General Barrons observed, even when the shooting eventually stops, the UK’s commitment to Ukraine will remain.
“This capacity-building contribution to Ukraine is going to endure… for the foreseeable future. It’s really important work.”
At UDSS, we continue to highlight and support the vital contributions of UK forces and leadership in strengthening our allies, shaping strategy, and preparing for the security challenges ahead.
🔗 Read the full article from BFBS here: ‘War is now in its fourth year, and Ukraine needs battlefield leaders’: Evolution of Op Interflex
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