British soldiers have been warned that Russia may be using spies and drones to gather intelligence on Ukrainian troops being trained in the United Kingdom.
This warning comes from a military handbook circulated among UK troops, according to an August 5 report by The Kyiv Times.
The handbook specifically mentions "Operation Interflex," a UK-led program that has trained around 34,000 Ukrainian recruits.
It suggests that Russian intelligence might be particularly interested in this operation, possibly using drones to fly over military bases or by approaching British trainers, either in person or online.
The handbook identifies "vulnerable locations," including training areas, aerial and seaport debarkation points, and key accommodation and logistical sites, as potential targets for espionage.
Despite these warnings, defense sources quoted by The Times say there is "little evidence" that Russia has actually used drones to spy on British military facilities.
Instead, the handbook's warnings may be precautionary, especially in light of recent reports of suspected spy drones monitoring the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany.
Earlier this year, German authorities acknowledged that unidentified drones had been repeatedly sighted over military training grounds, although none have been successfully intercepted.
The training of Ukrainian troops is supported by a coalition of 34 countries as part of broader efforts to assist Kyiv in its defense against Russian aggression.
Operation Interflex is one of the key initiatives, focusing primarily on providing basic military training to new Ukrainian recruits at various facilities.
