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| Ukraine soldiers in combat-training at secret camp in East Anglia | Ukraine soldiers in combat-training at secret camp in East Anglia |
| (4 months later) | |
| Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in a mock village built at a location in East Anglia | Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in a mock village built at a location in East Anglia |
| Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in a mock village built at a location in East Anglia | Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in a mock village built at a location in East Anglia |
| Two years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers are being trained by allied forces at a specially constructed combat-training camp in a secret location in the East of England. | Two years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers are being trained by allied forces at a specially constructed combat-training camp in a secret location in the East of England. |
| Operation Interflex, external is the code name given to the UK Armed Forces' training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their country's Russian invaders. | Operation Interflex, external is the code name given to the UK Armed Forces' training programme, which has been created to develop and prepare Ukrainian recruits to fight their country's Russian invaders. |
| "The will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was", says Col James Thurston, the British Army commander who is leading the operation. | "The will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was", says Col James Thurston, the British Army commander who is leading the operation. |
| Some of those involved have spoken to the BBC as the war continues. | Some of those involved have spoken to the BBC as the war continues. |
| Ukraine war in maps: Russia makes limited advances | Ukraine war in maps: Russia makes limited advances |
| Ukraine war in maps: Russia makes limited advances | Ukraine war in maps: Russia makes limited advances |
| 'Hard and fast' | 'Hard and fast' |
| L/Cpl Biggs says the training is 'definitely beneficial' for the Ukrainian soldiers | L/Cpl Biggs says the training is 'definitely beneficial' for the Ukrainian soldiers |
| L/Cpl Biggs says the training is 'definitely beneficial' for the Ukrainian soldiers | L/Cpl Biggs says the training is 'definitely beneficial' for the Ukrainian soldiers |
| L/Cpl Biggs, 29, who is originally from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. | L/Cpl Biggs, 29, who is originally from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. |
| He is working with military colleagues from Australia to train Ukrainian soldiers in a mock village built in the secret location in East Anglia. | He is working with military colleagues from Australia to train Ukrainian soldiers in a mock village built in the secret location in East Anglia. |
| "Their job is pretty much to clear [the village] - building by building," he says. | "Their job is pretty much to clear [the village] - building by building," he says. |
| The five-week training course is "definitely hard and fast", he adds. | The five-week training course is "definitely hard and fast", he adds. |
| Military personnel from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and the Netherlands are working on the operation, which is taking place across several locations in the UK. | Military personnel from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and the Netherlands are working on the operation, which is taking place across several locations in the UK. |
| "The training we are delivering is definitely beneficial, and is making an impact when they get back [to Ukraine], because they are highly trained and [will be] able to fight all the better," he adds. | "The training we are delivering is definitely beneficial, and is making an impact when they get back [to Ukraine], because they are highly trained and [will be] able to fight all the better," he adds. |
| 'Our spirit is strong' | 'Our spirit is strong' |
| Ihora says he will take the 'positive experiences' back home with him to Ukraine | Ihora says he will take the 'positive experiences' back home with him to Ukraine |
| Ihora says he will take the 'positive experiences' back home with him to Ukraine | Ihora says he will take the 'positive experiences' back home with him to Ukraine |
| Ihora, which is not his real name, has been a serving soldier in Ukraine for 10 years and before coming to the UK had been "taking part in freeing Kharkiv Oblast region", he says. | Ihora, which is not his real name, has been a serving soldier in Ukraine for 10 years and before coming to the UK had been "taking part in freeing Kharkiv Oblast region", he says. |
| He adds that he and his colleagues have "only positive experiences" from the training so far. | He adds that he and his colleagues have "only positive experiences" from the training so far. |
| While he has "very extensive previous experience", Ihora says the "most beneficial" parts of the course involve "urban working... as well as clearing trenches". | While he has "very extensive previous experience", Ihora says the "most beneficial" parts of the course involve "urban working... as well as clearing trenches". |
| Speaking about his relatives back home, he says: "I worry for my family, however our national spirit is very strong and we got together as a nation - and we do believe [in] the victory - and we're moving forward towards it." | Speaking about his relatives back home, he says: "I worry for my family, however our national spirit is very strong and we got together as a nation - and we do believe [in] the victory - and we're moving forward towards it." |
| 'Wolves are at the door' | 'Wolves are at the door' |
| Sgt May says the training is 'incredibly important' for the war effort | Sgt May says the training is 'incredibly important' for the war effort |
| Sgt May says the training is 'incredibly important' for the war effort | Sgt May says the training is 'incredibly important' for the war effort |
| Sgt May has been in the British Army for 11 years, and is currently running the platoon sergeants' battle course as part of Operation Interflex. | Sgt May has been in the British Army for 11 years, and is currently running the platoon sergeants' battle course as part of Operation Interflex. |
| Sgt May, 31, who is originally from Newmarket, Suffolk, served in Afghanistan and has since trained army personnel from around the world. | Sgt May, 31, who is originally from Newmarket, Suffolk, served in Afghanistan and has since trained army personnel from around the world. |
| The training course is "incredibly important", he says. | The training course is "incredibly important", he says. |
| Australian military members are among those training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK | Australian military members are among those training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK |
| Australian military members are among those training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK | Australian military members are among those training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK |
| "The Ukrainians, in a matter of weeks, are going to go back to the front line - so anything we can do to help is good." | "The Ukrainians, in a matter of weeks, are going to go back to the front line - so anything we can do to help is good." |
| He adds: "The wolves [are] at their door already, so the realism shows that each and every one of them is willing to learn the tactics that we are implementing." | He adds: "The wolves [are] at their door already, so the realism shows that each and every one of them is willing to learn the tactics that we are implementing." |
| UK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversary | UK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversary |
| UK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversary | UK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversary |
| 'We feel the support' | 'We feel the support' |
| Translator Anastiia says the skills learned in the UK are 'precious' | Translator Anastiia says the skills learned in the UK are 'precious' |
| Translator Anastiia says the skills learned in the UK are 'precious' | Translator Anastiia says the skills learned in the UK are 'precious' |
| Anastiia, who is from Ukraine, is in the UK working as a military interpreter. | Anastiia, who is from Ukraine, is in the UK working as a military interpreter. |
| "First of all, in general, we feel your support," she says. | "First of all, in general, we feel your support," she says. |
| "We feel the support of the outside world. So, this is helpful and when we are back to Ukraine, we will stay with the feeling. | "We feel the support of the outside world. So, this is helpful and when we are back to Ukraine, we will stay with the feeling. |
| "And as for a practical side of course, it's a good chance to develop [our] tactical judgement. Those skills are really precious for us." | "And as for a practical side of course, it's a good chance to develop [our] tactical judgement. Those skills are really precious for us." |
| 'Putin's objective has failed' | 'Putin's objective has failed' |
| Col James Thurston is leading Operation Interflex | Col James Thurston is leading Operation Interflex |
| Col James Thurston is leading Operation Interflex | Col James Thurston is leading Operation Interflex |
| Col James Thurston, who is the commander of the operation, says: "It's an incredibly rewarding task and I'm really honoured to be the mission commander. | Col James Thurston, who is the commander of the operation, says: "It's an incredibly rewarding task and I'm really honoured to be the mission commander. |
| "But more importantly for Ukraine - and it is important for a number of reasons - at the strategic level, President Putin's objective was to divide the West and split us apart. | "But more importantly for Ukraine - and it is important for a number of reasons - at the strategic level, President Putin's objective was to divide the West and split us apart. |
| "What you see here on Operation Interflex is nations that have come together to work collaboratively to train Ukraine. | "What you see here on Operation Interflex is nations that have come together to work collaboratively to train Ukraine. |
| "That coming together shows that Putin has failed in that strategic objective." | "That coming together shows that Putin has failed in that strategic objective." |
| He adds: "What I'd say is the mindset, the mentality, and the will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was." | He adds: "What I'd say is the mindset, the mentality, and the will to win of the Ukrainians is coming through [and] is as strong as ever it was." |
| The training is taking place at a secret location | The training is taking place at a secret location |
| The training is taking place at a secret location | The training is taking place at a secret location |
| Follow East of England news on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 | Follow East of England news on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 |
| Related topics | |
| War in Ukraine | War in Ukraine |
| Newmarket | Newmarket |
| British Army | British Army |
| Ukraine | Ukraine |
| Cottesmore | Cottesmore |
| Wellingborough | Wellingborough |