David Sivills-McCann
More than 30,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained in the largest military training programme of its kind on British soil since the Second World War.
The UK-led Operation Interflex was launched in June 2022 and had the target of reaching the milestone by the end of 2023.
The training package has been delivered in a variety of locations across the UK and takes volunteers who joined Ukraine's armed forces with little or no previous military experience, teaching them the skills required to survive and be effective on the battlefield.
This allows the Ukrainian armed forces to accelerate their deployments, rebuild their numbers and scale-up their resistance against the Russian invasion.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "I am incredibly proud of all the British and Ukrainian soldiers, sailors, airmen and women involved in this major undertaking. Their dedication and professionalism today is ensuring peace for our continent in the future.
"Op Interflex has changed the equation of this war, harnessing Ukraine's spirit, courage and determination, and matching it with global military expertise.
"The crucial contribution of our international partners to this programme reinforces the global support for Ukraine and underlines our united belief that Ukraine can and will win this war."
The five-week course includes weapons handling, battlefield first aid, Law of Armed Conflict training, patrol tactics and rural environment training.
The Ukrainian armed forces said Operation Interflex had improved the fighting capability of the recruits.
During the past 12 months, the package has also expanded to include the upskilling of Ukrainian marines, with British Commandos training Ukraine's forces in small boat amphibious operations, as well as mine-clearance training by the Royal Engineers, trauma response training and even army chaplaincy support for Ukrainian padres.
Major General Oleksii Taran of the Ukrainian armed forces said: "Ukrainian Defence Forces highly appreciate and are grateful to the United Kingdom, its nation and government for the opportunity to train Ukrainian personnel at British military bases as part of the multinational training Operation Interflex.
"A jointly developed training programme taking into account the Ukrainian experience, professionalism, and discipline of the multinational instructor community.
"The exceptional thoughtfulness of the logistical and material-technical dimension of the operation ensures the highest standards of both the basic combined military training of the Ukrainian recruits and the training of Ukrainian instructors and mid-level commanders.
"We notice the greater fighting capacity of the servicemen and women of the armed forces of Ukraine who successfully completed the Interflex training course, their resilience and ability to engage hard with the enemy under bombardment.
"They have warfare and basic weapon handling skills, are trained to conduct combat operations in trenches and urban areas, have basic military medical training according to international protocols and are knowledgeable about the Law of Armed Conflict.
"This is undoubtedly an impressive contribution of Great Britain and partner countries in Ukraine's fight against the unprovoked and criminal Russian aggression."
Ukrainian recruits are being trained by UK military personnel as well as other allies.
A number of international partner forces joined the programme, including Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Australia.
Nato ally Romania has also confirmed its involvement.
The commander of Operation Interflex, Colonel James Thurstan, said: "The UK and international partner forces are working hard to provide Ukrainian recruits with the skillsets needed to defend their sovereign territory.
"We work closely with the armed forces of Ukraine to ensure that the capabilities provided to them meet the tactical demands of the conflict as it evolves."
The training was set up in the UK after Operation Orbital, the British Army’s long-term training programme in Ukraine, had to be paused when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Op Interflex's size and ambition is unrivalled. The programme is a key example of how the UK can help galvanise the international community into supporting the armed forces of Ukraine.
"I'm delighted we will exceed the target for this year and thank the UK trainers and our international partners who have worked night and day to reach the milestone ahead of schedule. I also pay tribute to the determination and resilience of the brave Ukrainian recruits that arrive on British shores."
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has lost over 50% of the land it initially captured following the February 2022 invasion.
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