The United Kingdom has officially extended Operation Interflex—the British-led multinational training programme for Ukrainian armed forces for the remainder of 2025. Initially slated to end this year, the initiative will now continue unabated, underscoring the UK’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s defence amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. The decision was announced by Defence Secretary John Healey during the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Ramstein, attended by President Zelenskyy and other allies. (£300 million in artillery ammunition was also pledged for delivery by year-end.)
Since its inception in July 2022, Operation Interflex has transformed over 56,000 Ukrainian recruits, many starting with little or no prior military experience into combat-ready soldiers. Delivered across locations in the UK and supported by a coalition of 13 allied nations, the training incorporates evolving battlefield needs, including basic infantry tactics, leadership instruction, weapons handling, battlefield first aid, the law of armed conflict, patrol procedures, and rural operations.
In recent months, further enhancements have been made to the training regimen: its duration has been extended from approximately 35 days to nearly 50, enabling more thorough preparation. Key new modules now include drone and electronic warfare tactics, reflecting the modern threats faced by Ukrainian forces.
The expansion of Interflex has, however, strained UK military resources. The National Audit Office warns that the programme now occupies over a quarter of the British Army’s training estate, significantly limiting time available for UK forces—including the Royal Marines to train. This has necessitated relocating marine-specific training operations like Operation Interforge to partner nations.
Despite staffing reductions, UK personnel dedicated to Interflex dropping from 1,389 in mid-2022 to 369 by early 2025—efficiencies and increased contributions from partner nations have maintained the scale of delivery.
