Reservist support vital to Ukraine peace operation

THOUSANDS of UK reservists would operate alongside regular soldiers on the ground in Ukraine under any peace plans, it has been revealed.

- By Marco Giannangeli

Provisional plans drawn up at Army headquarters in Andover have set out the need for at least 1,000 part-time soldiers to fill infantry, engineering and medical roles if the Prime Minister's “Coalition of the Willing” deploys troops.

They warn that sustaining operations in eastern Europe would require reservists for a minimum of two years, on a full-time reservist service basis.

The assessment reflects a wider manpower crisis in the regular Army, with numbers at a historic low.

And senior commanders concede that no significant deployment could be mounted without reserve support.