Ukrainian troops were practising deadly attacks with British-supplied NLAW missiles today - as just across the Belarus border Russian forces also made ready for war.
As Kyiv’s UK-trained troops went through their paces military commanders thanked Britain and even the Queen for the “game-changer “ weapons which will help defend against Russia.
At Desna military training base, 50 miles north of Kyiv and in deep pine forests, the men of 72 Mechanized Brigade were brandishing the deadly tank-killer missiles.
They were less than 50 miles from Belarus’s border to the north, over which as many as 80,000 Russian and local troops also began wargaming, possibly preparing for an invasion.
The Russia-Belarus “exercises” codenamed Allied Resolve 2022 got underway on Thursday and are the biggest deployment to its neighbour by Moscow since the Cold War.
Meanwhile, as many as 126,000 Russian troops are on Ukraine’s eastern flank, supported by 30,000 pro-Moscow separatists in contested Donbas.
All over Ukraine even civilians are preparing to defend against Russia in a programme called Prepare To Defend the Motherland.
In Vinnytsia, west-central Ukraine ordinary people were seen going through their paces being taught military tactics and how to use guns.
And 2,000 miles away at RAF Fairford tension was ramped up as a US Air Force B-52 bomber landed, apparently in reaction to the escalating crisis.
Many of the Ukrainian soldiers here in Desna proudly wore a death’s head insignia carrying the prophetic words: “Ukraine or death,” which may soon become a grim reality.
Lt Colonel Ihor Bezogluk, 50, who was overseeing them told the Mirror: “God save the Queen and thank you so much to Britain for giving us the NLAWs.
“Anything that will help us defend our country is very well received and these missiles have changed the war for us.
“It means we can fight the Russians and it does not matter how many of them there are now that we have a way of stopping their armour.
“The Russians cannot scare us with their numbers.”
As we spoke hundreds of troops stormed trenches, firing at targets and attacking other obstacles in assault formations, many carrying the badly-needed anti-tank weapons.
Shots pierced the cold air as we spoke and the troops moved forward, bristling with weapons and confidence, storming trenches.
Those carrying NLAWs were marking tank targets with lasers, making sure they hit them before moving on to the next task.
A few hours drive across the border from the dramatic display Russia and Belarus launched their biggest-ever joint military exercise, which may be a ruse to gather an invasion force to strike Kyiv.
The Ukrainian capital is just over 100 miles south of Belarus and could be encircled by Russian tanks within a few days - unless these troops can hold them back.
Lt Colonel Bezogluk, a married father-of-four and also a grandfather, added: “As you can see we are training in urban and trench warfare. The missiles mean we will be able to defend a city and fight the enemy.
“These soldiers are 100% confident they can win and they will fight until the last breath they have.
“My message to Russia is ‘we are not brothers.”
Asked if Russia will invade, he answered: “It is not possible to say what a crazy person is thinking.
“In 2014 I never would have imagined they would annex Crimea and go to Donbas.
“But let’s be sure of one thing. We are not only ready to die for Ukraine but we are ready to kill for our homeland.”
Asked why the troops were not firing the NLAWs he smiled and replied: “We are saving them for the Russians if they come.”
Staff Sgt Roman Yaremenko, 28, of 72 Brigade, is proud of the troops he has helped train, having been taught by British forces.
He said: “My role is training these soldiers with the NLAWs.
“Technically they are brilliant missiles - as before we only had rocket propelled grenades.
“These weapons are absolutely a game changer for us because it’s like they have a brain.
“You can fire and forget them and you can even hit hidden tanks, firing from buildings or trenches.
“It means we are now ready to defend Ukraine and protect her. We are strong inside and ready to fight.
“And these soldiers are very confident and well-trained. We are ready for this.
“I am hoping Russia does not invade Ukraine because that would surely mean a war against Europe.
“The problem they keep provoking us so I think they will do something.”
What is NLAW?
The NLAW is a Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon The operator simply tracks the target for a few seconds before firing and NLAW does the rest, computing the whereabouts of the target even if it can no longer be seen.
Its armour-piercing warhead can destroy heavily protected main battle tanks in a single shot and is deadly to half a mile in distance.
It is ideal for house to house guerilla war - as many fear a war in Ukraine may become.
Because it is so light at 27lb It is best for dismounted light forces who operate in all environments, including built-up areas.
Sources say a soldier can learn how to fire an NLAW in just one hour.
By deploying a number of NLAW-carrying troops across a large area Ukraine’s troops could wreak havoc on Russia’s tank formations.
A source said: “It is one of the easiest weapons to teach and learn how to shoot. It is extremely user-friendly.”
