European troops to rehearse possible Ukraine mission in Poland

Britain and France will lead Exercise Koalicja from 9 to 22 November, testing how a multinational force could be moved, protected and supplied if it were sent to Ukraine after the fighting ends.

Around 2,800 personnel are expected to take part across land, air and maritime activities, including 300 from the UK, according to the British Ministry of Defence. AFP reports that the land and air exercises will take place around Nowa Dęba in south-east Poland. Turkey will lead a maritime simulation from Istanbul, testing plans for clearing mines in the Black Sea.

The exercise will also test command arrangements and how forces from different countries work together. British RAF jets will simulate how they might reassure commercial aircraft if Ukraine’s skies reopen.

The Ministry of Defence says the proposed force would enter Ukraine only after fighting has stopped and at the request of the Ukrainian government. Western officials told the BBC that its purpose would be to support Ukraine and help rebuild its armed forces, not to conduct offensive operations, keep the peace or monitor a ceasefire.

The officials said the force would not operate on the front line or under Nato command. They said it would be able to defend itself, but did not spell out its rules of engagement if attacked. Russia has opposed the stationing of foreign troops in Ukraine; President Vladimir Putin said last year that they would be “legitimate targets”, the BBC reported.

The eventual size and composition of any force remain undecided. Western officials told the BBC that national contributions would depend on the circumstances in which hostilities end and on individual countries’ political decisions.