The British Army has made the decision to reduce training hours for Ukrainian soldiers at a base in Kent due to complaints from local residents about the noise and smoke from the range, according to a report by The Times. This cut in training hours will further limit the already rushed training program that the Ukrainian forces receive in the UK.
The Ministry of Defense was forced to make this decision after the Lydd Town Council received a number of letters from residents complaining about the constant explosions at Lydd Ranges, which were causing their windows to rattle. One resident who had lived near the base for seven years described the noise and vibrations as disruptive, stating, “When they let off the explosions, they do vibrate the house. I was writing a letter one day and I dropped the pen because it really went ‘kaboom’.”
There were also calls from local residents to shut down the facility entirely. One man expressed his frustration with the noise, saying, “The explosions are very noisy indeed. They make the windows rattle.”
In response to these complaints, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Powell, the base’s commander, explained that the decision to reduce training was made in order to maintain a good relationship with the “good people of Lydd.”
Typically, Ukrainian recruits receive five weeks of training at facilities like Lydd Ranges. However, due to the reduction in training hours, these recruits will have even less time to receive the necessary training. The British military has already trained 20,000 Ukrainian troops since the conflict with Russia began last year. Many of these troops had no prior military experience and returned to Ukraine after completing only basic tutorials on weapons skills, first aid, and fieldcraft.
Despite the limited training, British-trained recruits have played a significant role in Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive against Russian forces. The 82nd Air Assault Brigade, equipped with British tanks and manned by soldiers trained in the UK, has been at the forefront of this counteroffensive. However, Ukraine has suffered heavy casualties in its attempts to break south through Russia’s fortified defenses. According to the latest figures from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the counteroffensive has resulted in over 66,000 casualties and the loss of 7,600 pieces of heavy weaponry in just over three months.
Although the reduction in training hours is understandable due to the complaints from local residents, it raises concerns about the effectiveness of the Ukrainian forces in their ongoing conflict with Russia. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact Ukraine’s military capabilities and their ability to defend themselves against Russian aggression.
In conclusion, the British Army has decided to cut training hours for Ukrainian soldiers at a base in Kent due to complaints from local residents about noise and smoke. This decision will further reduce the already rushed training program that Ukrainian forces receive in the UK. While it is important to address the concerns of local residents, there are concerns about the impact this will have on Ukraine’s military capabilities in their ongoing conflict with Russia.
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