UK leads 2,800 troops in exercise preparing for potential Ukraine deployment

According to a new British Government statement, 300 British troops with RAF jets and 2,500 other troops from 11 nations are set to rehearse deploying to Ukraine in the event of peace. They will rehearse how to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine after the fighting ends.

Troops will carry out Exercise Koalicja in Poland between the 9-22 November, with the UK and France jointly leading the effort. It will test how to move, protect, and supply a force that would help rebuild Ukraine’s Armed Forces after the end of hostilities. The exercises are to take place on land, in the air, and at sea.

It is the first major exercise run by the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), which is the military arm of the Coalition of the Willing. A group of countries pledged to support Ukraine. The force would only move into Ukraine after the fighting had ceased and at the request of Ukraine.

Any future MNF-U deployment would not carry out peacekeeping or ceasefire-monitoring duties. It is unclear what training the force could provide to already battle-hardened Ukraine.

British component in Exercise Koalicja

British soldiers include units from the British Army’s 7 Brigade (the ‘Desert Rats’). These are there to rehearse logistical movements.

In the air, the Royal Air Force will provide two Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager aerial refueling aircraft. The aircraft will simulate how they would reassure commercial air travel after Ukraine’s skies eventually reopen.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP said, “By leading this work with our allies, we are protecting the UK and Europe for the long term and delivering on our commitment to keep the country safe. Ukraine’s security is our security, and we will stand with them for as long as it takes.”

The MNF-U’s commander is British three-star general Lieutenant General Tom Bateman. The effort is jointly led by the UK and France, with the force’s headquarters soon to move from Paris to London.

Exercise Koalicja is prepping for a contingency

The 11 nations contributing to Exercise Koalicja are Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye and the UK. The breakdown of contributions and troops by country has not been disclosed.

Exercise Koalicja will include “testing command-and-control arrangements for the force, rehearsing the movement of personnel, equipment and supplies and assessing how different components can integrate and operate effectively as one multinational force.”

Western officials have not commented on the final make-up and shape of the forces that could be deployed to Ukraine. Previously, military experts have suggested that Western countries could deploy tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine.

The exercise appears to be an effort to be ready for an eventuality instead of a firm plan soon to be implemented. The BBC notes, “Russia has shown no sign of wanting to end its war.”