Primed for battle with Putin's forces: Inside secret British training camp with mocked-up Eastern European council estates where brave Ukrainian volunteers become 'lethal' soldiers

A thick plume of white smoke fills the air. A dozen Ukrainian soldiers brandishing rifles emerge, advancing towards a dilapidated building. Enemy forces could be sheltering within.

On their commander's signal, they enter; snipers circle the exterior in case of an ambush.

But there's no enemy, and no surprise attack, thank God.

The scene of this battle is a mocked-up village in the middle of a field in southern England.

The Ministry of Defence has been training these recruits in urban warfare, as part of its Operation Interflex, a five-week course designed to turn ordinary Ukrainian citizens into highly skilled warriors.

The programme is similar to what British Army reserves undertake, but it has been tweaked to reflect the reality of the war in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence has been training recruits in urban warfare, as part of its Operation Interflex, a five-week course designed to turn ordinary Ukrainian citizens into highly skilled warriors

A thick plume of white smoke fills the air. A dozen Ukrainian soldiers brandishing rifles emerge, advancing towards a dilapidated building. The scene of this battle is a mocked-up village in the middle of a field in southern England

 Smoke grenades and loud bangs heighten the reality of the exercise. Buildings have been constructed for the volunteers to train in, modelled on the council estates of Eastern Europe

The Operation Interflex programme is similar to what British Army reserves undertake, but it has been tweaked to reflect the reality of the war in Ukraine

'We're aiming to turn them into lethal and survivable soldiers,' says Lt Col Steve Wilson of the Queen's Royal Hussars, who runs the programme. 'We're harnessing the fighting spirit they come with so they can get back to Ukraine and defend their homeland.'

When I visited, the cohort had just a week of the course left to complete. Now they will face real bullets and bombs after returning to their country to endure the onslaught of its Russian invaders.

'It's intense, but we need to learn this as fast as possible. This knowledge will help us survive,' Misha, 38, tells me calmly from beneath his mask.

The Ukrainians keep their faces covered. If their identities were revealed, it could put their families back in Ukraine in grave danger.

Like most of his comrades, Misha has no battlefield experience. He worked in a car factory in Western Ukraine until the Russians invaded two years ago.

Until now, he'd never even held a gun. Still, he's eager to return home to the fray.

'I'll be OK: I have my girlfriend,' he grins, gesturing towards the rifle in his hands.

Misha is one of the volunteers sent by the Ukrainian army on a crash course in trench warfare, urban fighting, weapons handling and firing, medical training and dealing with explosives.

The Mail was invited by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to observe the training at a secret location. At the time of the visit, the cohort had just a week of the course left to complete

The volunteers sent by the Ukrainian army on a crash course in trench warfare, urban fighting, weapons handling and firing, medical training and dealing with explosives

The Ukrainians keep their faces covered. If their identities were revealed, it could put their families back in Ukraine in grave danger

Lt Col Steve Wilson, (pictured) of the Queen's Royal Hussars, runs the programme. He told the Mail: 'We're aiming to turn them into lethal and survivable soldiers. We're harnessing the fighting spirit they come with so they can get back to Ukraine and defend their homeland'

The Mail was invited by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to observe the training at a secret location.

Smoke grenades and loud bangs heighten the reality of the exercise. Buildings have been constructed for them to train in, modelled on the council estates of Eastern Europe.

With bloodshot eyes and a stocky build, 25-year-old Vitalii looks exhausted after the exercise. 'The training is good and has given me confidence to go on the front line,' he says. Much to everyone's amusement, he's particularly enjoyed the army food.

The Ukrainians arrive at a British airfield with only a few personal possessions, with the rest of their kit – including a field uniform, body armour, first aid kits, day sacks and so forth – supplied by the MOD.

Over 34,200 Ukrainians have undergone training – one per cent of them women – since the programme began in July 2022. The average age of this group is in the mid-30s.

That may be relatively old for a raw recruit but it's still much younger than the average age for a Ukrainian soldier serving in this war: 43. By comparison, the average age of British servicemen on the task force sent to recover the Falklands in 1982 was just 25.

Back in the field, two female interpreters are on hand to translate orders from the British commanders.

They instruct the soldiers how to 'stack up' (when squads form a single file by a door of a room where a threat could be lurking), how to clear an entrance, and how to check for booby traps.

Some orders prove more difficult to translate than others. One army commander, with a strong Glaswegian accent, shouts: 'Once you get the squeeze, attack the crack!'

Soldiers are taught how to 'stack up' (when squads form a single file by a door of a room where a threat could be lurking), how to clear an entrance, and how to check for booby traps

The Ukrainians arrive at a British airfield with only a few personal possessions, with the rest of their kit – including a field uniform, body armour, first aid kits, day sacks and so forth – supplied by the MOD

Over 34,200 Ukrainians have undergone training – one per cent of them women – since the programme began in July 2022. The average age of this group is in the mid-30s

Colour Sergeant Simon of 2nd Batallion Royal Regiment of Scotland, normally based in the Commonwealth nation Grenada, says the process can sometimes be tedious. Still, he is impressed by this cohort. While the average age of a British sergeant is 29, he has met 22-year-olds in the Ukrainian army who have already risen to that rank.

'We've also learned from them – some of them are battle-hardened already,' the colour sergeant explains. 'They have aggression, which is what you need to attack. It's good because they're confident.'

Corporal Ratu, also of the 2nd Batallion Royal Regiment of Scotland, who hails from Fiji, is a reassuring figure. 'So far, so good, we've got all day to do this,' he tells them. 'The first time you do it, it's not going to be perfect.'

He later tells me: 'They're a good bunch, eager to learn.'

The main difference between British soldiers and Ukrainians? 'The Ukrainians don't usually walk across open ground because of drones.'

This drill comes at a precarious moment in the war.

Last month, Russian troops captured Avdiivka. The fall of the eastern Ukrainian town – which for months had been the scene of the fiercest fighting – is Moscow's biggest gain since it captured the city of Bakhmut in May 2023.

And as the war drags on, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky continues his urgent appeal for more weapons. Ukraine is critically dependent on ammunitions from Western allies to keep fighting Putin's army.

The cohort will soon face real bullets and bombs after returning to their country to endure the onslaught of its Russian invaders

As well as the platoon commander training, the Army has also laid on 10-week leadership courses. Pictured is a soldier in the cohort

The volunteers have said the training is 'good' and has given them the necessary 'confidence to go on the front line'

These men – many of whom never imagined they would one day be soldiers – are preparing as best as they can, so they can return home to fight for their country's survival 

'I'm very thankful to the British Army for organising this for us,' says trainee soldier Misha. 'And I'm impressed by all the countries helping Ukraine. It is vital they keep supporting us, because Russia has more resources and personnel.'

The war, he says, is not just an issue for Ukrainians, but the whole world. 'If one country is allowed to attack another, this can be replicated elsewhere.'

Andreii, 35, says he previously tried signing up for the Ukrainian army three months ago, but the queue was too long. In the meantime, he has been volunteering to help move residents to safe areas.

'I'm getting ready for the front line. My turn has come to fight,' he says proudly.

The former logistics manager has a wife and child waiting for him in Kyiv. 'People are so used to war they treat it as daily life,' he says.

As well as the platoon commander training, the Army has also laid on 10-week leadership courses.

Alex, in his 40s, has been on such a programme since January. He used to work in Russia and lost friends among those who supported Putin's barbarity.

He joined the Ukrainian army eight months ago and has seen combat.

'My family and country are my main motivation,' Alex says in perfect English. He remains calm as he speaks about life in a war zone.

Colour Sergeant Simon (not pictured) of 2nd Batallion Royal Regiment of Scotland, normally based in the Commonwealth nation Grenada, says the process can sometimes be tedious. Still, he is impressed by this cohort 

A trainee soldier is pictured at the mocked-up village in the middle of a field in southern England where Operation Interflex is underway

One trainee solider said he was 'very thankful to the British Army for organising this for us' and that he is 'impressed by all the countries helping Ukraine'

'My wife is in Ukraine, it's difficult for her, especially when the sirens go off. We have seen explosions from the windows of our apartment.'

When asked if he is worried that Western support could fade away, he replies: 'I don't think so, because of the values and freedoms that the Western world shares with Ukraine. We simply can't give up. I'm sure it will continue and lead to peace.'

In the meantime, these men – many of whom never imagined they would one day be soldiers – prepare as best as they can, so they can return home to fight for their country's survival.

I ask Misha if he's scared by the prospect of facing death on the front line.

'Of course,' he says. 'But the biggest fear for me is dying in vain, before I could do something that could help my country and my people.'