This footage shows how Ukrainian volunteers learn critical skills to fight the Russians in a five-week-long training course in the UK.
The images show instructors from all over the world teaching the volunteers skills like how to enter an enemy-held building, marksmanship, and, crucially, “how to survive as long as possible”.
One of the instructors explains: “We have a short time to practise it so we have to tell them a lot of things.”
And one of the volunteers says of the support for Ukraine from the UK and other countries: “It’s impossible to appreciate how much of a boost this gives us.”
Newsflash obtained the images from NATO’s Joint Support and Enabling Command on 21st June, along with a statement saying: “‘It is necessary to finally free our Ukraine from the enemy.’ Follow a group of Ukrainian volunteers as they go through a UK-led course and learn crucial skills to defend their country on the frontlines.
“Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have volunteered to fight for their country. The volunteers are trained in basic military skills by NATO Allies and partners across Europe.
“In the United Kingdom, groups of Ukrainian volunteers are undergoing a five-week course focusing on small arms, medical and urban combat training among other fundamental military skills. The training aims to provide them with basic skills and principles to survive and fight in their respective units. The courses are United Kingdom-led by instructors from NATO Allies, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway, as well as NATO invitee Sweden, and partner countries Australia and New Zealand.
“The programme is part of the UK’s commitment to help Ukraine uphold its right to self-defence against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.
“In this video, we follow a group of brave Ukrainian volunteers going through one of these courses and learning new skills as they prepare to face again the hardships of the battlefield, ready to defend their country.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 485th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 23rd June 2023, Russia had lost about 223,330 personnel, 4,017 tanks, 7,798 armoured combat vehicles, 3,985 artillery units, 617 multiple launch rocket systems, 379 air defence systems, 314 warplanes, 307 helicopters, 3,447 drones, 1,214 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,708 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 545 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
In a briefing for partner countries and international organisations on 22nd June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded full de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
He said: “We will continue to inform our partners. We will also provide information to those countries that are pretending to be neutral even now.
“Obviously, radiation does not ask who is neutral and can reach anyone in the world. Accordingly, anyone in the world can help now, and it is quite clear what to do.”
He added: “Full de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is a must.”
Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar reported on 22nd June that defence forces continue to effectively halt the advance of Russian troops around Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mariinka.
She said: “The Russians are losing manpower and military equipment every day but continue to attack, trying to fulfil orders of the Kremlin concerning the full occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.”
She reported today (23rd June) that defence forces had halted the Russian offensive around Kupyansk and Lyman.
The UN has added the Russian armed forces to a global list of offenders for killing children in Ukraine.
The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal”.
He used to same term to describe “all his entourage, along with terrorists, commanders and executors of criminal orders” in a statement about the UN report that accused Russia of killing more than 130 children in Ukraine last year.
He said on 22nd June: “According to the UN, in 2022, Russia killed 136 children. Also, the Russian army and their fighters maimed 518 children and carried out 480 attacks on schools and hospitals. They used 91 children as human shields.
“I want to note that Russia kidnaps Ukrainian children and continues to kill them in 2023.”
The 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia includes measures aimed at countering sanctions circumvention.
It will allow the EU to restrict the sale, supply, transfer, or export of specified sanctioned goods and technology to certain third countries whose jurisdictions are considered to be at continued and particularly high risk of circumvention.
Yermak added today that this should have a negative impact on the Russian military-industrial complex and its ability to produce missiles.
The spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalev, reported that on 22nd June, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine using missiles and kamikaze drones.
He said three kamikaze drones were destroyed by air defence systems.
Also on 22nd June, the Ukrainian Air Force launched seven strikes on concentrations of Russian troops and four on enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said today that during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, he repeatedly heard: “Ukraine is a future member of the European Union.”
He said: “It is time to erase the word ‘future’ from this statement. We are implementing reforms. We are fulfilling recommendations. We are working for the sake of Ukraine. Purposefully. Swiftly. United.”
He also said on 22nd June: “I am very grateful to Great Britain for hosting and organising such a powerful event, I thank all partners and allies who stand side by side with Ukraine in these difficult times for us, our resilience is the strength of the Ukrainian people multiplied by the military, financial, sanctions, humanitarian support of our partners and allies.”
He added: “The partners supported the idea of using the frozen Russian assets to restore Ukraine and have no doubts about our membership in the European Union.”
