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Operation Orbital

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Operation Orbital
Royal Navy off-shore patrol vessel HMS Trent arriving in Odessa to deliver a maritime training package (May 2021)
Location
Ukraine (until February 2022)
United Kingdom (from July 2022)
ObjectiveProvide training and support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to help ensure Ukraine's territorial integrity.
DateFebruary 2015–February 2022
July 2022–present
Executed by United Kingdom
Outcome
  • Training provided to 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel
  • First training programme suspended ahead of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
  • Second training programme launched in the UK[1]

Operation Orbital is the code-name for a British military operation to train and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was launched in 2015 in response to the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and it was temporarily suspended in 2022 ahead of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prior to its suspension, the operation had successfully trained over 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel in a range of skills to help them defend the territorial integrity of their country. Due to the ongoing violence in Ukraine, the operation was relocated to the United Kingdom on 9 July 2022, where a new, much larger British-led international training programme commenced.[1]

Background

Main article: Russo-Ukrainian War

In 2014, protests and a revolution broke out in Ukraine following the Ukrainian government's decision to foster closer ties to Russia, as opposed to the European Union. This unrest resulted in the removal of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and the installation of a new pro-Western government led by Petro Poroshenko. In response to this, pro-Russian counter demonstrations took place in parts of Ukraine, mainly within the Donetsk and Luhansk (Donbas) regions in the country's east and within the Crimean Peninsula. Russia began supporting pro-Russian separatists in their conflict against Ukraine, which ignited a Russo-Ukrainian War. Between February and March 2014, Russia also invaded and annexed Crimea. This action was condemned by Ukraine, the UK, the EU, NATO and the US as a violation of international law. The UK coordinated with its Western allies to impose economic sanctions against Russia.

History

First training programme

In February 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the UK was deploying 30 troops to Ukraine to help train the Ukrainian military in medical, logistical, intelligence and infantry skills. This preceded a larger programme of training provided by up to 75 troops. These troops were rotated every two months, with command and control rotating every six months.[2] The aim of this training mission, under the code-name Operation Orbital, was to increase the capacity of the Ukrainian military to help it better defend Ukraine's territorial integrity.[3] It ran concurrently with training missions of other countries which were part of the Joint Multinational Training Group — Ukraine (JMTG-U).

The UK's training mission took place away from the conflict zones of the east and involved around 100 UK military personnel at a time, primarily from the British Army, working as Short Term Training Teams (STTTs). These teams were coordinated and led by HQ staff based in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Training focused on infantry, medical, logistical, counter-IED, leadership, planning and maritime (diving, firefighting, damage control and sea surveillance) skills.[3]

In 2018, the UK expanded the scope of Operation Orbital to include maritime training provided by teams of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel.[4] During the same year, members of 3rd Battalion, The Rifles (3 RIFLES) were among those involved with providing training.[5]

In November 2019, the Ministry of Defence announced it had trained approximately 17,500 Ukrainian military personnel. It also announced a three-year extension to the operation.[4]

The operation was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic which began in 2019. This suspension was lifted by August 2020.[6] In September 2020, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the UK was expanding its support to include a maritime training initiative, which saw Royal Navy personnel providing maritime training and support to Ukraine, alongside naval personnel from Sweden, Canada and Denmark.[3]

To further support the aims of Operation Orbital, the UK and Ukraine reinforced their ties through joint training opportunities on land, sea and in the air. One of these training exercises — Exercise Joint Endeavour — involved the UK airdropping 250 paratroopers from the British Army's 16 Air Assault Brigade into Ukraine. They were flown directly from the UK within three days in the UK's largest parachute drop in over a decade. Ukrainian paratroopers from the Ukrainian 80th Air Assault Brigade took part in the exercise.[3][7]

In October 2021, personnel from the RAF Regiment and RAF Police deployed to assist with air-focused force protection training.[8]

Suspension

In February 2022, amid a build-up of Russian forces on the Russo-Ukrainian border and concerns of an impending Russian invasion, the UK began supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons, including NLAW missiles. Teams of UK military personnel were deployed to provide training on how to use the weapons, within the framework of Operation Orbital.[9] These teams consisted of 30 advisors from the newly-formed Ranger Regiment of the British Army. Some 2,000 missiles were airlifted to the country by the Royal Air Force using C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. RAF surveillance aircraft, including Boeing RC-135, were also involved with collecting intelligence on Russian ground movements.[10][11]

On 17 February 2022, the UK announced it had ended its training operation due to concerns of a "no notice" attack by Russia. Ukraine is not a member of NATO and, as such, the UK, along with other NATO member states, announced it would not defend it against Russia in a direct combat role.[12] The UK helped reinforce NATO's eastern flank by doubling its presence in Estonia, and by dispatching ships to the Mediterranean and additional jets to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.[13] Around 1,000 troops were also placed on standby in case they were needed to assist with refugees in Poland.[12]

By its end, the operation had successfully provided training to 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel.[13]

In May 2022, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated that the operation was only temporarily "paused" and may resume once the war is over.[14][15]

Second training programme

On 17 June 2022, the UK offered to lead a new training programme, this time within the UK, with the aim of training up to 10,000 Ukrainians every 120 days.[16] This new training programme, led by the British Army's 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade, began on 9 July 2022. Approximately 1,050 British military personnel are involved and training is held at several sites across the UK.[1] To assist with training, the UK government rapidly procured AK variant rifles, similar to those used by Ukrainian forces.[17]

By 30 June 2022, approximately 450 Ukrainian troops had received training in the UK. This training reportedly focused on the use of UK-supplied weaponry, including M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems.[18][19]

On 4 August 2022, Canada joined New Zealand and the Netherlands in sending a contingent to assist with the UK-led training programme. Approximately 225 troops were sent, primarily from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.[20] The New Zealand contingent amounts to around 29 troops, with their instruction focusing on the L118 light gun, donated by both the UK and New Zealand.[19]

The UK invited the member states of the UK Joint Expeditionary Force to contribute to the training programme; on 7 August 2022, Sweden accepted its invite and announced it would send 120 instructors.[21] This was followed a day later by a commitment from Finland to send 20 instructors.[22] On 10 August, Denmark further announced that it would join the training mission, sending 130 instructors.[23] On 11 August, Germany and Latvia announced it would be joining the training progamme.[24]

The Royal Navy is also contributing to the programme with Ukrainians being trained in maritime skills, such as damage control, minehunting and weapon drills.[25]

Legacy and continued support

In addition to Operation Orbital, the UK has provided support to Ukraine in the form of military and humanitarian aid. It has continued to supply anti-armour weaponry, with over 4,000 anti-tank missiles being delivered by 16 March 2022.[26] On 16 March 2022, the UK also announced it was supplying Ukraine with Starstreak short-range man-portable air-defense systems.[27]

According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), British training and military aid has been consistently well-received with Ukrainian personnel routinely complimenting the professionalism and quality of instruction given by their British counterparts.[28] On 19 March 2022, as Russia's invasion began to stall due to Ukrainian resistance, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko praised UK instructors, stating: "I thank every British instructor who helped me to make Ukraine stronger. The ability to stop Putin is not only our achievement, this is an achievement for the British soldiers, officers who worked shoulder to shoulder with us to prepare Ukraine’s armed forces. The result is impressive".[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Russia-Ukraine war: UK training programme gets under way". BBC News. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Britain to send military advisers to Ukraine, announces Cameron". The Guardian. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Operation ORBITAL explained: Training Ukrainian Armed Forces". Ministry of Defence. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Defence Secretary announces extension of UK training mission to Ukraine". GOV.UK. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Operation Orbital: The British Troops Training Ukraine In Trench Warfare". BFBS. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ "UK launches multinational training to enhance Ukrainian Navy against threats from the East". GOV.UK. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Hundreds of UK troops parachute into Ukraine for joint exercises". GOV.UK. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  8. ^ "RAF personnel arrive in Ukraine to conduct training for Ukrainian military". Royal Air Force. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Ukraine: Antitank Missiles". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Large-scale aerial surveillance effort underway over Ukraine". UK Defence Journal. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Russia-Ukraine tensions: UK sends 30 elite troops and 2,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine amid fears of Russian invasion". Sky News. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b "UK troops sent to help train Ukrainian army to leave country". The Guardian. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022. Britain, in common with all other Nato allies, has said it would not fight against any Russian attack, a point repeated by the minister in a BBC interview. Ukraine is not a member of Nato, although in 2008 it was given a promise that it would one day be able to join.
  13. ^ a b "UK forces arrive to reinforce NATO's eastern flank". GOV.UK. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  14. ^ "What could the British Army learn from Ukraine?". The Week. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022. He also said that Operation Orbital, the British Army's training mission in Ukraine, has only been "paused", suggesting it could resume [...]
  15. ^ Nicholls, Dominic (4 May 2022). "Ukraine could train British soldiers once war with Russia ends, says Ben Wallace". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  16. ^ "UK to offer major training programme for Ukrainian forces as Prime Minister hails their victorious determination". GOV.UK. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visits Armed Forces of Ukraine as training programme starts across the UK". GOV.UK. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  18. ^ Beale, Jonathan (30 June 2022). "Ukrainian troops getting weapons training in UK". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b Haynes, Deborah (30 June 2022). "Ukraine war: Soldiers hungry to learn from British Army as they sharpen skills on Salisbury Plain". Sky News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Canada to help train Ukrainian recruits in United Kingdom". Reuters. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Sweden to train Ukrainian soldiers in UK". Government Offices of Sweden. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Finland to provide training to Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of UK-led training programme". Ministry of Defence (Finland). 8 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Danske soldater skal træne ukrainere i krigen mod Rusland". DR (in Danish). 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  24. ^ "UK and allies agree expanded International Fund for Ukraine support". GOV.UK. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister visits Royal Navy mine-hunting training as part of UK visit". GOV.UK. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Defence Secretary meets NATO Defence Minister in Brussels". GOV.UK. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  27. ^ "UK supplying starstreak anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, defence minister Wallace tells BBC". Reuters. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  28. ^ Reynolds, Nick (1 March 2022). "Security Force Assistance to Ukraine and the Failure of Deterrence". Royal United Services Institute. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  29. ^ Brown, Larisa (19 March 2022). "UK forces hailed by ex-president Poroshenko for preparing Ukraine to meet foe". The Times. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
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