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The British-led international training program for the Ukrainian military predicts that in addition to nearly 10,000 soldiers trained in 2022, at least 20,000 more will take courses this year.

Ambassador of Ukraine in London Vadym Prystaiko said in an interview with the Voice of America that the Ukrainian and British sides are exploring the possibilities of further expansion, as well as the definition of special programs in accordance with the needs, as well as the types of weapons with which Western countries help.

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Vadym Prystaiko emphasized that British, as well as American and Canadian instructors, even before the full-scale Russian invasion, trained 25 thousand Ukrainian military personnel in Ukrainian centers, who formed the basis of those forces “that allowed Ukraine to survive.”

After the Russian invasion in 2022, the training was transferred to the territory of Great Britain, where the Ukrainian ambassador had the opportunity to visit his compatriots more than once.

VOA: What is your impression of what you saw?

Vadym Prystayko: If you say what I saw, then at first I saw just civilians like you and me, who arrived in sweaters and jeans, and five weeks later, when they left, they were motivated military personnel. They know how to act. They took all the equipment that the British gave them with them.

The first thing that British instructors teach, and now with them representatives of ten other countries, they teach a soldier to survive on the battlefield. I myself served in the army back in Soviet times. I understand how different it is from the military doctrine used by the Soviet Union, and now Russia.

For the British, and now for our military – young officers who have passed the training, this is survival, and the second – effectiveness on the battlefield. And, believe me, I have seen how effective they are.

I often watch videos on Youtube, for example, how our soldiers take part in the liberation of cities and towns in Ukraine, and I recognize the training that I saw here, how they were taught this. How they act carefully, supporting each other, coordinated. That is why there is a high efficiency and survival of our soldiers.

VOA: Is there a need now to expand the training of the Ukrainian military, to increase the number?

Vadym Prystayko: Last year, through the efforts of the British side, we trained 9,200 soldiers. These are motorized riflemen, infantry. But at the same time, don’t forget that the crews of the naval ships we acquired from Great Britain were also trained. Helicopter crews were prepared. Now – tank crews, as well as crews for AS-90 self-propelled artillery installations. That is, it is a little wider than what we see on TV.

This year, Britain planned to train at least 20,000 soldiers. Again, this is in addition to the plans we have for pilots, tankers and others who are being trained outside of that massive program.

I know that there is a need and willingness on the British side to increase that number as much as Ukraine needs for the timely preparation of these armed formations that will participate in the liberation of our land.

A direct conversation between the British and Ukrainian militaries about where to take people and when they should be taken away from that war to improve training is serious work. When we are talking about tens of thousands of people, you can imagine how to do even just logistically.

During each separate period, from one thousand to two and a half thousand of our servicemen are stationed here at four military bases. There is a constant rotation.

And they are not only studying. To a certain extent, they also work as ambassadors like me, because they deal with the British military, with the military of other countries.

Recently, the Minister of Defense visited them, the King visited them, my wife and the Prime Minister’s wife went and treated our soldiers with Ukrainian and Indian dishes, because you know that the Prime Minister’s wife is of Indian origin.

There are very interesting things that happen outside of the normal training.

I believe that they receive more than just weapons and equipment. They also understand the sentiment and the moral support that is here in the UK. And it will inspire them when they return home to the battlefield.

Voice of America: What can you say about the training program for Ukrainian fighter pilots announced by Britain?

Vadym Prystayko: Regarding what is and what I can say – these are two big differences. We want to keep our enemy a bit of a surprise so they don’t realize all the plans we’re working on right now and what’s really going on right now.

As for Britain’s training of Ukrainian pilots, there was already experience. We know about those helicopters that were transferred to Ukraine, and the crews of those helicopters were trained here in Britain. We also plan to train pilots for the basic course, who could be retrained at any time we need for certain platforms that we will receive.

This is what the conversations we are currently conducting with Great Britain consist of, so that by the time we receive a political decision on the transfer of Western-style aircraft to us, which are unfamiliar to our pilots.

Let’s not waste time and get trained pilots, and later, when we know the platform for sure, then there will be little left to train them.

This is the approach of Britain – not to exchange only articles in newspapers, but to work. And then we’ll see. When there is a political solution, we will train our pilots and move forward.

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