Russian spies could be flying drones over UK military bases to gain information about Britain’s secret training programme for Ukrainian soldiers, it has been revealed.
OPERATION INTERFLEX
Russian intelligence has shown ‘significant’ interest in Operation Interflex, the British-led multinational plan to train and support Ukraine’s armed forces, according to a guide handed out to British soldiers.
The Field Army Threat Handbook, published late last year, warns that Russian intelligence services ‘routinely employ’ reconnaissance capabilities to ‘collect on UK land activities, including the training of armed forces of Ukraine personnel’.
The handbook claims this involves the use of ‘remotely piloted aircraft systems, mobile and foot surveillance, virtual and physical approaches to training providers and interest from investigative journalists’.
‘This government takes the security of our military establishments very seriously,’ a Ministry of Defence spokesperson told The Times.
‘There are a range of robust measures to protect our people and sites.’
The Ministry of Defence has been working with Ukraine’s military to train recruits in urban warfare, as part of its Operation Interflex, since July 2022.
By June of last year, the Army reported it was on track to train 37,000 recruits, with the war effort desperately calling for battle-ready soldiers to replenish frontlines.
