Interflex Enters a New Phase
After four years and the training of tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, officers and instructors, the British-led Operation Interflex is moving into a new era. – Within the framework of Interflex, Sweden together with our partners has trained 63,000 Ukrainian soldiers, of whom 11,000 are instructors, says Per Nilsson, Deputy Chief of the Swedish Army.
Photo: Carl Törner/Försvarsmakten
On a sunny field in east of England, Swedish soldiers stand in formation alongside personnel from other nations. It is a ceremony of recognition for the British-led Interflex mission as it marks four years of operation. Participants include representatives from the United Kingdom, Ukraine and other partner nations that have contributed to the training of Ukrainian forces since 2022.
– The goal from the very beginning has been to strengthen Ukraine’s own ability to train and lead its forces in the long term. At the same time, the situation on the battlefield has required us to balance long-term sustainability with immediate needs, says Deputy Chief of the Swedish Army Per Nilsson.
Involved from the start
Sweden is one of the 13 partner nations that have actively supported the programme since its inception. From the summer of 2022, Sweden has deployed hundreds of instructors to the United Kingdom to train Ukrainian soldiers and officers. Over the years, instructors from across the Swedish Armed Forces have contributed expertise in combat techniques, survival skills and leadership.
Back on the training field in eastern England, Ukrainian representatives are awarding medals to the foreign instructors.
– The scale of Sweden’s contribution makes me extremely proud. The thousands of Swedish women and men who have trained Ukrainian forces over these years have done outstanding work. Both the Ukrainians themselves and the other participating nations have praised the quality of both the training and the instructors, says Per Nilsson.
Focus ahead
Interflex is now entering its fifth year, and Ukraine’s needs have evolved over time.
– What is now being requested is advanced specialist training, something that Sweden and the other partner nations have responded to. It is both positive and natural to shift focus now that we have trained enough instructors for Ukraine to meet its own training needs, says Per Nilsson.