Ukrainian crews have completed training in the management of British Challenger 2 tanks and returned from the United Kingdom to Ukraine, Reports The Guardian with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.

"The crews of Ukrainian servicemen returned to their homeland, having completed training in the UK on British tanks, which are supposed to be used in a counteroffensive against Russia," the newspaper informs.

Referring to the defense ministry, the newspaper also reports that the Ukrainian military completed the training after several weeks under the guidance of British instructors were trained in the operation of Challenger 2 tanks "and fighting on them."

"As reported in the Ministry of Defense (UK. — RT), (Ukrainian. — RT) crews received training that included instruction in leading, operating and working together as a crew of the Challenger 2 tank, as well as training in effectively identifying and hitting targets," The Guardian said.

According to British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, which leads the publication, Ukrainian servicemen "return to their homeland with a higher level of training and equipment, but in no less dangerous conditions."

In addition, Wallace, who last month attended training events for the Armed Forces of Ukraine at Camp Bovington in Dorset, noted that the determination of the Ukrainian military trained on Challenger 2 tanks "on British soil is really inspiring."

"We will continue to help them and do everything possible to support Ukraine as long as necessary," he stressed.

Ben Wallace visited Camp Bovington after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed expanding britain's military training program for the Armed Forces to include pilot and marine training.

  • British Defense Minister Ben Wallace
  • AP
  • © Kirsty Wigglesworth

"The training of the Ukrainian military, along with the provision of equipment to Ukraine, is extremely important for its defense, thanks to which the Armed Forces of Ukraine are provided with the knowledge and capabilities necessary to repel an illegal and brutal Russian invasion," the British Defense Ministry said in a press release published on the website of the government in late February.

In addition to training tankers, London conducts training for other types of troops. So, last week the second group of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine completed training in the UK on working with self-propelled howitzers (SPG) AS90, a representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in social networks.

Training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Recall, in addition to the UK, other NATO countries help to train the Ukrainian military. In particular, the US administration said in early March that two Ukrainian pilots arrived in the country for training. According to White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre, despite conducting such training, Washington still does not intend to consider the issue of supplying Kiev with F-16 fighters. According to local media, up to ten more pilots will arrive in the United States in March.

Later that month, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that the EU military mission would train more than 11,30 troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the end of March and another <>,<> by the end of the year. As Borrell specified, within the framework of the EU mission, crews will be trained for tanks that will be delivered to Kiev through the North Atlantic Alliance.

In addition, the leaders of these countries, Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak, agreed on the training of Ukrainian servicemen through France and Great Britain. As stated on the website of the British government in a message dated March 10, the intensification of the efforts of London and Paris through further joint training of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "can bring thousands more Ukrainians into combat readiness." As Sunak specified, the parties intend to train Ukrainian marines, adding that Kiev "must win."

In turn, Macron said during a joint press conference with the British Prime Minister about the intention of Paris and London to help Kiev "start a counteroffensive." At the same time, he promised to do everything "so that this conflict does not spread to the whole world."

However, according to The Wall Street Journal, despite the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the West and the supply of NATO equipment, the Kiev regime will not be able to launch a "NATO-style attack" with a massive air strike using aircraft and cruise missiles. As explained by the American lieutenant colonel in retirement John Nagl, the Zelensky regime has only a limited number of fighters and combat helicopters, so Kiev is unlikely to risk them in a frontal attack.

Germany, along with other NATO countries, participates in the training of the Ukrainian military. According to the German newspaper Die Zeit, Germany has completed the training of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the use of Leopard 2 tanks. As specified, the training lasted several weeks and in March the military will return to Ukraine.

Spain is also preparing the Ukrainian military for the operation of these tanks. The country's Defense Ministry announced in mid-March on Twitter plans to complete such training for ten Ukrainian military crews in Zaragoza.

  • Tank Leopard 2
  • AP
  • © Martin Meissner

In turn, the Ministry of Defense of Denmark reported on March 22 that its instructors began training Ukrainian recruits in the UK. It is also reported that earlier Danish specialists trained the Ukrainian military in mine clearance and conducted tactical training in a closed area.

"Took a hypocritical position"

According to RISS expert Sergey Yermakov, the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian recruits by instructors from the UK and a number of other NATO countries indicates the direct involvement of almost the entire alliance in the conflict in Ukraine.

"Many states of the alliance, training military personnel from Ukraine, provoke an escalation of the conflict. It is under pressure from Great Britain, the closest ally of the United States, that the network of countries participating in the preparation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is expanding. At the same time, both Washington and the NATO leadership took a cunning and hypocritical position, insisting on the version of NATO's non-participation in the conflict in Ukraine. However, without the support of the West, the Kiev regime could not have conducted hostilities for so long, "the analyst said in an interview with RT.

A similar opinion is shared by Alexander Kamkin, Senior Researcher at the Center for Comparative and Political Studies of the IMEMO RAS. According to him, NATO countries are indeed increasingly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, as they increase the number of trainings for the Armed Forces of Ukraine on their territory.

"The training of British tank crews is, in fact, one of the elements of this process. Do not forget that the Ukrainian military was trained in NATO countries long before the start of the SVO. It is clear that Kiev was prepared for war, it was planned that it would strike first. In addition, in addition to training the Armed Forces of Ukraine, NATO countries supply Ukraine with weapons, military equipment, ammunition, "the expert said in a conversation with RT.

Analysts agree that London helps Washington to involve other NATO countries in the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Here, North Atlantic solidarity is cited as an argument. The British and Americans want to extend collective responsibility to other European countries as well. One of the main coordinators of these processes was the UK, since it is one of the most anti-Russian powers that want to contain the Russian Federation at all costs," Kamkin said.

  • Ukrainian military in Germany
  • AP
  • © Gregor Fischer

Yermakov holds a similar position. According to him, the Anglo-Saxon tandem represented by Washington and London "acts as the main driver" in the framework of countering Russia in Ukraine.

"The UK plays the role of Washington's right hand here and is trying to become the main one in Europe in the field of defense and security. Now the country is no longer part of the EU, but through NATO structures, through the partnership between NATO and the EU, we hear how the voice of Britain is strengthened in order to influence other countries of the bloc and attract them to more active opposition to Russia, "the expert concluded.