Ukrainian military instructors with combat experience have been secretly deployed to the UK to train British forces in countering drone tactics employed by Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to reports, as part of the Interflex operation, which is aimed at training Ukrainian troops in the UK, Ukraine has sent experienced drone system instructors to share their unique combat experiences gained from the war with the Russian army. The focus is on equipping British forces with knowledge of modern drone tactics used by Russia on the battlefield to better prepare them for future conflicts.
Ukrainian instructors are also helping to integrate drone usage into the basic training for new recruits, adapting military education to the realities of modern warfare.
Colonel Alister Carns, the UK Minister for Veterans Affairs, emphasized the importance of such exchanges in a series of posts on platform X.
“The lessons from Ukraine are relevant now and are of immense significance for every theater of operations,” Carns noted.
He mentioned that technologies already exist that enable drones to navigate operational zones autonomously, detect, track, and engage targets—both autonomously and with operator involvement.
Carns stressed that troops must be prepared for drone usage on all fronts.
“Just as artillery training became standard before World War I, today drones should become the new norm of military preparation,” he emphasized.
Palmer Luckey, head of the American defense company Anduril, specializing in drone production, stated that he believes the “Pandora's box” has already been opened regarding autonomous weapons.
Professor Michael Clarke, former CEO of the Royal United Services Institute, remarked that “we have been heading toward this for a long time.”
For reference: It is known that training for Ukrainian forces in Europe primarily occurs under two programs—Interflex led by the UK and the EUMAM initiative under the EU.
The Interflex operation was launched in the fall of 2022, involving over 10 countries providing training for Ukrainian servicemen on British territory.
As of November 2024, 50,000 Ukrainian servicemen have completed training under this operation.