British troops will rehearse a postwar Ukraine mission in Poland, and officials say they could fire back at Russians
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 November 9 to 22 in Poland, will involve 2,800 troops from 11 nations led by Britain and France — the first major drill by the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), the military arm of the Coalition of the Willing. The Desert Rats' 7 Brigade will rehearse logistics while RAF Typhoons and a Voyager tanker simulate reopening Ukrainian airspace to civilian traffic.
The force will operate without US technology, including Starlink, and experts warn the deployment may never actually happen given ongoing fighting and questions over American support.
Western officials confirmed troops would be permitted to defend themselves against 'the full spectrum of threats' from Russian forces, including counter-drone operations, if attacked.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff separately announced that working-level Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, mediated by Washington, are due to begin next week.
