UK commandos took part in 'high-risk' covert ops in Ukraine: British general
A senior British military official has revealed for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine that commandos from the Royal Navy were deployed to the country to take part in "high-risk" covert operations.
Britain's Deputy Chief of the Defense Staff and the former head of the Royal Marines Lieutenant General Robert Magowan said Royal Marines had been involved in "discreet operations" and performed tasks in a "hugely sensitive environment" in Ukraine.
In comments published in the Globe and Laurel, the official publication of the Royal Marines, the general said that the commandos' missions carried "a high level of political and military risk."
"In January this year, 45 Commando Group deployed at short notice — from the depths of a dark, north Norwegian winter, to evacuate the British embassy in Kiev to Poland," he said. "Then in April, they returned into the country to re-establish the diplomatic mission, providing protection to critical personnel. During both phases, the commandos supported other discreet operations in a hugely sensitive environment and with a high level of political and military risk," Magowan added.
Before the Russian offensive began in Ukraine on February 24, UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace had said that a small contingent of military personnel had been deployed to Ukraine to deliver weapons and training as the threat of war increased.
Later on, it was reported that British military personnel, including SAS operators, had been sent to deliver weapon system training to Ukrainian servicemen once the war had begun. But the ministry at the time insisted that no British servicemen had been involved in combat operations.
The UK has sent more than £2.3 billion in military assistance to Kiev, including more than 5,000 NLAW anti-tank weapons and M270 multiple launch rocket systems. London is now considering sending longer-range weapon systems to Kiev. Wallace told the UK parliament on Monday that he "constantly review[s] the weapons systems we could provide."
Russia has warned the West that providing Kiev with weapon supplies will prolong the war.
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