UK troops training Ukrainian soldiers 'legitimate target' for Russia, warns Medvedev

Russia's ex-President Dmitry Medvedev has renewed warnings about targetting British troops as a proposal is being discussed in UK parliament to deploy m to Ukraine for training President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces during raging counteroffensive for first time.

UK's new defence secretary Grant Shapps is holding talks with Army leers to send British troops to teach combat skills to Ukrainian soldiers that would reduce reliance on UK as well as North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] members’ military bases. 

'A new idiot: British Defense Minister': Medvedev

Medvedev, in reference to British troops arriving in Ukraine, warned that y would be a legitimate target for Russian forces. British instructors in Ukraine "will become a legal target for Russian military and will be destroyed without mercy,"  vice-president of Russian Security Council Medvedev wrote on Telegram. 

“ number of major idiots in NATO countries is growing. A new idiot, British Defense Minister, decided to transfer training courses for Ukrainian soldiers to territory of Ukraine itself,” he asserted. 

Shapps, who held bilateral talks with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, earlier this week said that training programme for Ukraine’s military is backed by at least 10 more nations. Military of NATO countries has taught combat skills to more than 26,500 recruits and UK has agreed to train nearly 30,000 soldiers, according to UK’s Ministry of Defence.

Following consultation with his chief of general staff, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, and or senior personnel at Salisbury Plain, Shapps told reporters, “I was talking today about eventually getting training brought closer and actually into Ukraine as well." He continued, “Particularly in west of country, I think opportunity now is to bring more things ‘in country’ – not just training, but also we’re seeing BAE [ UK defence firm], for example, move into manufacturing in country, for example."

“I’m keen to see or British companies do ir bit as well by doing same thing. So I think re will be a move to get more training and production in country," British Defence minister Shapps said. 

A Boeing H-47 chinook helicopter transports new recruits of  Ukraine Army trained by UK military. Credit: AP

Last month, Royal Engineer soldiers, or 'Sappers' delivered crucial Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training to Ukrainian soldiers to disable mines, munitions and or explosive devices planted in Ukraine by Russian troops.  tailored British training package included teaching Ukraine's soldiers munition recognition, disposal methods and search procedures to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mines, booby traps and trip wires.

"Putin’s illegal invasion has left Ukraine’s fields and towns covered in dely landmines and unexploded munitions, which presents an immediate danger to its citizens now, and for years to come," Shapps said. 

Royal Engineers "are using ir world-leing experience to train Ukraine’s bomb disposal experts, who can pass on se lifesaving skills to ir own recruits and ensure a safer future for all Ukrainians," he ded. 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. Credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service

Medvedev warned that should British troops arrive in Ukraine, UK would have transformed its 'instructors' into a "legal target for our Armed Forces, knowing full well that y will be destroyed without mercy. And not as mercenaries, but as British NATO specialists."

Berlin's Taurus KEPD-350 missile 5 production facilities will be hit: Medvedev

Russia's ex-president threatened Germany against shipment of  Taurus-guided missiles equipped with laser rangefinders and infrared seekers that would be deployed by Ukraine's military to target entrenched Russian positions.  5-meter-long (16.4 feet) and 1.4 tons Taurus KEPD-350 missile 5 is most modern weapon system that is used by Bundeswehr-- German military forces. It can travel with speed of sound, approximately 1,170 kilometres per hour (727 miles per hour) and can hit target at 500 kilometres (310 miles) eving rar systems. 

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has been stalling transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine over fears that it might be used to strike targets deep inside  Russian territory, resulting in intensifying conflict or even bringing war on NATO's doorstep. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has been giving assurances to German government about usage of missiles to be restricted within Ukraine's borders.

Ukrainian volunteer military recruits take part in an urban battle exercise while undergoing training by British armed forces at a military base in sourn England. Credit: AP

British Army and Defence Ministry continue to deliver international training of Ukrainian military recruits. Credit: AP

Ukraine has 'right to strike on Russian territory': German Bundestag chair

Taurus KEPD-350 missile 5, says German Air Force, could be used to hit high-value targets, including bunkers, trenches, and reinforced concrete walls. Berlin plans to send 150 to 300 of total 600 Taurus missiles that its military currently has in its reservoir. While Germany’s ruling coalition approved sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. On Sept. 4, German MP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann wrote on X that "he [Chancellor Scholz] alone blocks this decision within coalition." 

As chair of Defence Committee at German Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, urged German parliament to send  long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, ding that its military has right to target  territory of Russian Federation. Medvedev warned that German factories producing Taurus missiles will become legitimate targets of  Russian troops.