Key facts
- About 300 British troops and more than 2,000 soldiers from 10 other nations are taking part in Exercise Koalicja in Poland.
- Western officials said the force would play a defensive role away from the frontline and would not rely on US communications or other systems.
- The UK Ministry of Defence said the exercise would test how to move, protect and supply a force to rebuild Ukraine's Armed Forces.
- Lieutenant General Tom Bateman commands the Multinational Force Ukraine, whose headquarters are moving to London.
- Britain said the operation is not a NATO mission and will not carry out peacekeeping or ceasefire-monitoring duties.
- The White House has proposed intelligence and logistics support for the force but has not committed to intervene if it were attacked.
About 300 British troops began a multinational exercise in Poland on Monday, November 3, 2026, alongside more than 2,000 soldiers from 10 other partner nations, rehearsing roles they might fill in a force intended to help rebuild Ukraine's armed forces once fighting stops. Western officials said British troops would be allowed to fire back if attacked as part of the mission.
The exercise, called Exercise Koalicja, is the first test of the military wing of the coalition of the willing, known as the Multinational Force Ukraine. LBC reported that 2,800 troops from 11 nations would rehearse rapidly deploying to Ukraine within months of a ceasefire. The UK Ministry of Defence said the training would test how to move, protect and supply a force that would help rebuild Ukraine's Armed Forces once the fighting ends.
Western officials told LBC the non-NATO force would play a defensive role away from the frontline, including using RAF jets to reassure commercial air traffic once Ukraine's skies are reopened. They acknowledged Russia could seek to challenge British troops in Ukraine and said the exercise would prepare them to defend against the full spectrum of threats and test counter-drone capabilities.
Britain said the operation is not a NATO mission and will not undertake peacekeeping or ceasefire-monitoring duties. The force is commanded by British Lieutenant General Tom Bateman, and its headquarters are moving to London. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: "This exercise shows the UK is stepping up, alongside France and our allies, to prepare for the day peace comes to Ukraine."
Officials were unable to say whether the force would deploy to Ukraine without a US commitment to protect it against Russian aggression, but said the exercise would not depend on American technology and capabilities. The White House has proposed intelligence and logistics support for the force but has resisted a commitment to intervene if it were attacked.