British troops are set to rehearse a Ukraine peace mission in Poland and would be 'allowed to fire back' if attacked
A RAF Voyager tanker and Typhoon jets, which the RAF plans to fly on sorties simulating how they would reassure commercial aviation once Ukrainian airspace reopens.British soldiers wade through a river on the Falkland Islands in October, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed British troops would be permitted to fire back if Russia attacks them during the Poland exercise.
Exercise Koalicja, running from November 9 to 22, will see 2,800 troops from 11 nations deploy to southeast Poland near the Ukrainian border — preparing to conduct the first major drill by the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), the military wing of the Coalition of the Willing. The UK and France are set to lead the exercise, with 300 soldiers from the British Army's 7 Brigade, known as the Desert Rats, rehearsing logistical movements alongside RAF Typhoons simulating how they would reassure commercial aviation once Ukrainian airspace reopens.
British commanders have confirmed troops must be ready to defend against 'the full spectrum of threats', including counter-drone operations, if Russia challenges them.
The MNF-U is not a NATO operation, has no offensive mission, and would only deploy once a ceasefire is agreed — with the US offering logistics support but no commitment to intervene if troops are attacked.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'This isn't a hypothetical plan — it's a real force, ready to help Ukraine once the fighting stops.'
