US commander appeared to suggest UK special forces were operating in Ukraine

BigPotato, 16 days ago

When the invasion kicked off, like day 0, SF assets all over the place were ready to bounce and get in there. I know at least one GROM and UK guy who were training their counterparts in case they got told they could support.

But, as others have said, these are more akin to advisors than “behind the lines” active missions. If you don’t think everyone has someone backing up the tax dollars they’re sending, you’re naive at best.

joe_archer, 16 days ago

Anybody who is surprised by this is either hugely naive, knows nothing about previous British military tactics or has been under a rock for the last 40 years.

Carrolade, 16 days ago

This should not really be surprising to anyone, given that training others is a part of their mission set. Does anyone doubt MI6 is active there, pursuing the missions they’ve been trained for?

That said, I’m surprised a Green Beret team doesn’t already come with a cyber guy. I mean, yeah, that’s probably a good idea to have someone that can monitor and work in the information space when you’re doing a long-term deployment overseas. Probably want a drone/EW guy too.

Badeendje, 16 days ago

Yeah the Airforce pilot reference probably means drone pilot. Can imagine the Airforce training the pilots and detaching them into other units.

UserMeNever, 16 days ago

US commander needs to keep his gob shut.

Careless talk costs lives.

FenrirIII, 16 days ago

Loose lips sink ships

ThePyroPython, 16 days ago

Well duh, special forces are one of our specialities.

tal, 16 days ago (edited 16 days ago)

I am very sure that there are British special forces in Ukraine.

After one of his visits to Ukraine, Michael Kofman was being interviewed about the possibility of soldiers going in and partway through started laughing and said “if anyone has people there, I’m sure the British do”. The interviewer asked him why he thought that and he laughed even harder and said “let’s just call it one analyst’s guess”.

My guess is that they’re present and that it’s an open secret that they’re there, but that the British government chooses not to officially announce the fact.

Later, they had that German military discussion that leaked and IIRC they said that the British had about 50 people in Ukraine, more than anyone else…IIRC we in the US had 17. The Brits were doing things like helping target British weapons (and French weapons, as IIRC the French didn’t have anyone present). The Germans were talking about having the British target their weapons too if they decided to send Taurus missiles, so that they could avoid putting anyone in-country.

whereisk, 16 days ago

Probably being present as trainers or consultants for British systems, intelligence, tactics etc. I can’t imagine they operate at the front or you’d be inevitably getting body bags back and you can only keep quiet so many.

tal, 16 days ago (edited 16 days ago)

I believe that the German discussion had something to to with programming weapons, which I assume – given the talk of Taurus and of the British dealing with French weapons and the British Storm Shadow and French SCALP having a common heritage – has to with the Storm Shadow/SCALP.

They may be doing other things too, but my guess is that that’s one thing.

IIRC Latvia also had some, don’t remember who else was on the list.

Cort, 16 days ago

Is this keeping the British in charge of targeting so the Ukrainians don’t target the Kremlin directly with the long range weapons?