Flying straight from the UK, 250 soldiers from 16 Air
Assault Brigade dropped into the Ternivsky training
area, where they teamed up with thousands of Ukrainian
troops ahead of Exercise Joint Endeavour.
Building on the strong relationship developed between
the two nations’ armed forces in recent years, the
exercise provides both nations with vital experience of
deploying rapidly from air to land to counter threats.
Minister for the Armed Forces
said:
Deploying directly to Ukraine from the UK, the Paras
were straight into the action on Exercise Joint
Endeavour.
Our participation is an important affirmation of our
commitment to our defence relationship with Ukraine,
our partners in the Black Sea, and our ability to
project highly capable troops forward anywhere, and
any time, they’re needed.
As the UK’s global response force, the paras of 16 Air
Assault Brigade are able to deploy worldwide at short
notice.
Alongside 200 troops from the Ukraine Airborne Forces,
the Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted
into the Eastern European country from 600ft from C-130
Hercules transport aircraft which had flown directly
from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
In doing so, the paratroopers demonstrated the ability
of the UK to move at pace to support our partners
around the world.
The 250-strong UK force also made up of personnel from
the Royal Engineers, Royal Horse Artillery, Royal
Signals, The Partachute Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
and The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, is
now fully assembled on the ground in Ukraine for
Exercise Joint Endeavour, which kicks off on 22
September.
Captain Harjot Singh Gill, 16 Air Assault Brigade:
We all bring something to this exercise. The
Ukrainians bring their resolve and courage and we
bring our constantly changing tactics and processes.
Our shared values and the airborne nature of our
units brings us closer together. This a welcomed
opportunity and the hot weather just makes us realise
that we are able to cope easily in all environments.
Exercise Joint Endeavour, which will total up to 8,000
personnel and also feature a small number of troops
from the USA and Canada, is the first multinational
exercise in Ukraine since the country achieved NATO
Enhanced Opportunity Partner status in June. As an
enhanced opportunity partner, Ukraine will gain further
experience working closely with NATO militaries,
sharing best practice and matching capabilities.
The UK and Ukraine have built a strong defence
relationship in recent years, with British troops
having trained over 18,000 members of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine in the five years since the start of the
UK’s training mission in the country, Operation
Orbital. Established in 2015 following the illegal
annexation of Crimea by Russia a year earlier,
Operation Orbital is a demonstration of the UK’s
unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s independence,
territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Defence Secretary last
month stepped up the UK’s support to Ukraine even
further, announcing that the UK would lead a
multi-national Maritime Training Initiative for the
Ukrainian Navy. Courses will be delivered by the Royal
Navy and naval personnel from Sweden, Canada and
Denmark in a range of areas.
