‘I will try to survive until the end of the war,’ says future Ukrainian soldier undergoing training in UK

It all takes place in the north of England, in a huge training camp in the beautiful English countryside. The authorities forbid to give more details. No names, no face photos: recruits must remain anonymous. They are Ukrainians and come to train here for five weeks, without ever leaving the base. Over the past year, 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers have already been trained there.

>> War in Ukraine: follow the evolution of the situation live

This training is decisive. And it is even more so when Ukraine announced on Monday June 5 that it had started its counter-offensive against Russia. To lead it, it will need even more troops.

Before, these men were translators, accountants or deliverers. When Russia invaded Ukraine, their lives changed. They now find themselves in fatigues surrounded by professional soldiers. For example, they train to take possession of a four-storey hotel that has fallen into enemy hands. Hidden behind an embankment, the Ukrainians progress under fire and explosions in a completely reconstructed fake village. They throw grenades to make smoke screens in order to get closer, then in small groups, they attack the building. They completely secure each level before bringing in reinforcements and moving up to the next floor.

No exercise is chosen at random

During this exercise, bullets and grenades are obviously dummy. British soldiers accompany them, correct them. These apprentice warriors have been following their teachings for nearly three weeks. “I learn to handle weapons, to maintain them. I am also taught tactical elements: how to patrol, how to cover your allies, protect yourself on the battlefield… Lots of different exercises“, explains one of them.

A few kilometers from this site, a trench was dug in a large field. It is the exact replica of a Russian trench detected by satellite. The Ukrainian soldiers, curled up, advance to repel the enemy. They themselves make the sound of bullets and throw grenades that do not explode. No exercise is chosen at random. “We base our training on the feedback we get from the command in Ukraine on what is vital. The first few weeks, we teach them the basics and then we spend a lot of time in the trenches, on urban warfare. We favor what is most useful and what increases their chances of survival on the battlefield.” detail the 2 ^e Lieutenant Turton, who is among the supervisors.

All recruits have in mind that the exercises are as realistic as possible. The army does not hesitate to call on extras. The apprentice soldiers, for example, discovered a one-legged man covered in fake blood, like a real bombing victim. A casualty that must be taken care of, without being overwhelmed by emotions.

The vast majority of recruits are completely inexperienced civilians who have decided to take up arms, like this young resident of kyiv. He is 23 years old and he was a translator when the war broke out. Today, he trains in this English military base. He wears a fatigues, his face is covered in black and green makeup. He speaks in clear, determined English: “I will try to be a soldier and survive until the end of the war and we will see what happens next.”

“I tried to avoid the army as much as possible”

He says his family and friends support him in his journey and that he is here on his own. He wants to take up arms and participate in the counter-offensive that Ukraine has just announced. “I never thought I would become a soldier, he confides. Instead, I tried to avoid the army as much as possible. But the day the war started… Even a few months before, I knew that if the war broke out, I would join the army. Even if I describe what I feel, no one will understand. You can’t understand until you live it and I hope nobody lives it because it’s horrible for us. Feelings impossible to describe.”