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Ukrainian troops are in the UK to be trained in how to use the armoured vehicles Britain is supplying to repel Russian forces, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
More than 20 soldiers arrived last week for training on the 120 vehicles being supplied to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s resistance, an official said.
They will be trained on the Mastiff, Wolfhound and Husky armoured vehicles, the Samaritan ambulance, and the Sultan and Samson reconnaissance vehicles.
Mr Johnson confirmed that Ukrainian troops were in the UK while he was on a state trip to India, where he will press for a loosening of ties with Russia.
“I can say that we’re currently training Ukrainians in Poland in the use of the anti-aircraft defences and actually in this country, [the UK] in the use of the armoured vehicles,” he said.
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Pro-Russian troops, including fighters of the Chechen special forces unit, survey the destroyed administration building of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Reuters -
A young Ukrainian refugee, one of 71 to board a flight from Moldova, sits on a suitcase after arriving in Bordeaux, France. AFP -
A member of a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine carries an unexploded projectile during mine clearing near Brovary, north-east of Kyiv. AFP -
An armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops presses on in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Reuters -
A worker cleans a statue of the founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin at Moscow Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. AFP -
Firefighters battle flames at a warehouse after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo -
People walk along a street past a missile that stuck in the ground, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Rubizhne, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Reuters -
A man rides his bicycle next to a destroyed Russian tank in Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP Photo -
A man walks next to a fire after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo -
A Ukrainian refugee from Mariupol area, is greeted after arriving in a small convoy that crossed through a territory held by Russian forces, after the opening of a humanitarian corridor, at a registration center for internally displaced people, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Reuters -
A Ukrainian soldier stands during the funeral of his father in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP -
Ukrainian soldiers walk on a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP -
Ukrainians receive humanitarian aid organised by local volunteers in Irpin. AP -
Volodymyr Lukyanovych, 63, cuts wood to make a fire outside his house in Irpin. His home was destroyed by Russian shelling. AP -
Vova, 10, and his father, Ivan Drahun, look at the grave of his mother, Maryna, during her funeral in Bucha. AP -
Sergei, 11, waits his turn to receive donated food during an aid humanitarian distribution in Bucha. AP -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and European Council President Charles Michel attend a news conference after their meeting in Kyiv. AP -
People pay their respects during the funeral in Kyiv for Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Karas, who died fighting Russian troops. AP -
Alexandra Kusminova pets her cat, named Mouse, in a restaurant in Dnipro, Ukraine, that was transformed into a shelter for those fleeing the war. AP -
A woman reads a book as she lays on a bed in the shelter. AP -
City workers repair a war-damaged road in Bucha. Getty Images -
The village council and police department buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Lymany, just outside Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Getty Images -
Local residents receive bottled water from a truck, since there has been no running water for more than a week in Mykolaiv. Getty Images -
A destroyed car on the road between Kyiv and Chernihiv. EPA -
A man looks at a burned APC in Yahidne, Chernihiv. EPA -
A man holds part of a missile in Yahidne. EPA -
A resident clears up a house that was occupied by Russian soldiers in Yahidne. EPA -
Local youth Vladyslav, 17, inspects the basement of the school building in Yahidne. EPA -
A local resident walks on the street in Yahidne. EPA -
Local residents speak on the street next to war ruins. EPA -
A destroyed garage in Ivanivka. EPA -
A man looks at bombs that litter a field in Ivanivka. EPA -
Natalia and her daughter climb a ladder, passing over a destroyed bridge in Kyiv. EPA
Mr Johnson's spokesman said “a couple of dozen” Ukrainian soldiers were in the UK, and more were expected for training in the future
“We are moving in conjunction with our allies providing new types of equipment that perhaps the Ukrainians wouldn’t have had previous experience on," the spokesman said.
"So it’s only sensible that they get the requisite training to get the best use of it."
He played down concerns that the move could be seen as escalatory by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We’re always conscious of anything that’s perceived to be escalatory but clearly what’s escalatory is the actions of Putin and his regime,” the spokesman said.
“We’re simply working together with our allies to give Ukraine the tools to defend themselves.”
