Ukrainian soldiers have landed in the UK to begin training on the Challenger 2 tanks which Britain has promised Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense made the announcement on Twitter, saying: “Ukrainian tank crews have arrived in the UK to begin training for their continued fight against Russia.
“The UK will provide Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine alongside global partner nations – demonstrating the strength of support for Ukraine, internationally.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “everything is going according to plan” over the supply of the tanks, with Ukrainians expected to start training on the Challengers shortly.
The UK was the first country to promise modern NATO tanks to Ukraine, with Germany and the US now also committed to supply Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces with dozens of vehicles.
Speaking at Chequers, where ministers were gathered for a Cabinet away day, Mr Sunak said: “Everyone should feel very proud of the leadership role that we here in the UK have played.”
He added: “We are now in dialogue with the Ukrainians about how best to provide those tanks and make sure their troops get the training they need on them as well.
“Those conversations are happening, everything is going according to plan.”
In the Commons, defense minister Alex Chalk said the UK will begin training Ukrainian soldiers in how to use and fix the contingent of tanks “next week, on Monday”.
On when Challenger 2 tanks would arrive in Ukraine, he added: “The intention is that it will be at the end of March, and between now and then a really significant programme of training, not just for the tank crews who are to operate this vehicle, but also for those who will be charged with maintaining it.”
He stressed that equipping Ukraine to push Russia out of its territory is “as important as equipping them to defend what they already have”.
