Richard Marles, Penny Wong visit Australian troops training ordinary Ukrainians to fight against Russia

Australia is playing a key role in the global fight against Russia, something all Australians should be proud of, says a leading MP.

Australian soldiers are training Ukrainians in the fight against Russia. Picture: Ben Birchall / Pool / AFP

All Australians should feel “a sense of pride” that the country’s armed services are training everyday Ukrainians in their fight against Russia.

That’s the message from Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, who visited the Operation Kudu site in the UK overnight.

Australian soldiers have been deployed to Wiltshire, in south England, to help the UK-led operation, which aims to train thousands of Ukrainian volunteers – many of whom have no military experience.

Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training session during the visit by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Picture: Ben Birchall / Pool / AFP

Senator Wong said it had been a ‘profoundly humbling’ experience. Picture: Ben Birchall / Pool / AFP

There, Australian forces are running intensive combat courses for the Ukrainians – giving them an accelerated basic infantry training that will prepare them for the “brutal, dangerous” environment they’ll encounter when they return home.

Senator Wong said she had been “profoundly humbled” by the visit.

Senator Wong and Mr Marles met with the Australian soldiers training – and the Ukrainians being trained – in Wiltshire on Wednesday. Picture: Ben Birchall / POOL / AFP)

“I’ve had moving moments before talking about this issue, and I’ve met with members of the Australian-Ukrainian community, but to be here and to speak with those brave Ukrainians who have come here in order to learn better how to defend their country is profoundly humbling,” Senator Wong said.

“I want to acknowledge them and also the Australians working here with others to better prepare and train these brave men and women.”

Senator Wong said she had been ‘profoundly humbled’ by her experience talking to Ukrainian soldiers. Picture: Ben Birchall / Pool / AFP

Mr Marles said with no end in sight, Australia was proud to play a role in giving Ukrainians an edge in Vladimir Putin’s “brutal” conflict.

“It is very poignant to be here and to see the work that our Australian trainers are doing in training Ukrainian soldiers,” he said.

“This is a citizen army in place now in Ukraine. The people who are being trained have come from normal jobs. They have volunteered in order to defend their country.

“And what they face is intense danger when they go home, and the training that Australians are providing will enable Ukraine to stay in this fight as long as possible so that they are able to resolve this conflict on Ukraine’s terms.

“I think Penny and I have an intense immense sense of pride about what our servicemen and women are doing here. They are making a real difference to what is happening in Ukraine.”

Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Senator Wong, Mr Marles and Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met with the soldiers training Ukrainians. Picture: Ben Birchall / Pool / AFP

The five-week course, run by Australian and British troops and known as Operation Interflex, gives recruits a basic overview of the tactics required to succeed on the battlefield.

They are trained in basic weaponry, including using drones in war, and taught how to survive in the elements.

Around 10,000 Ukrainians have already completed the course – only a minority of whom had any military experience.

Members of the Australian Armed Forces and Ukrainian soldiers train together during Mr Marles and Senator Wong’s visit. Picture: Ben Birchall / Pool / AFP

Originally published as Richard Marles, Penny Wong visit Australian troops training ordinary Ukrainians to fight against Russia