The UK's most elite special forces, the Special Forces Airborne Forces (SAS), are providing military training to Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine, media reports have emerged.



The Times reported that the Ukrainian military units stationed in and around Kiiu (Kyiv) in the last one to two weeks had received testimonies that the SAS had trained them on how to use the next-generation light anti-tank firearm (NLAW).



The NLAW is a portable anti-tank missile that the UK provided to the Ukrainian military in February, just before Russia invaded Ukraine.



In this regard, Ukrainian Army Captain Yuri Mironenko said two weeks ago an instructor of the British special forces SAS taught Ukrainian recruits and re-enlistees how to use the NLAW at a unit in the Ovolon region north of Kiiu.



He said, "Everyone who can use NLAW is somewhere else (for the front, etc.), so I had to do a self-study on YouTube," he said.



Separately, a special forces commander, codenamed 'Skiffe', also said that the same training was held last week in his unit, The Times reported.



The British Ministry of Defense has declined to confirm the authenticity of these reports.



Britain has sent instructors to Ukraine to provide military training since Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, but withdrew all two months ago when Russia's re-invasion was imminent.



This is because British soldiers dispatched as instructors were concerned that a direct conflict with the Russian army could escalate into a dispute between Russia and NATO.



In Ukraine, there are civilians who have served in the British Marine Corps or special forces and are working as military instructors.



However, Captain Mironenko and others said that it was clear that it was an active-duty British soldier who visited units around Kiiu this month to provide military training, The Times reported.