Western Allies Role-Play Russian Attacks to Train Ukrainian Troops

Soldiers from multiple Western nations are training Ukrainian troops at a purpose-built site in eastern Poland under Operation Legio, a Norway-led international effort. The training includes a designated opposition force meant to resemble Russian front-line behavior, with Western troops driving tanks, armored vehicles, motorcycles, and ATVs toward Ukrainian soldiers.

The goal is direct: expose Ukrainian troops to scenarios they may face when they return to the battlefield against Russia’s invasion.

The opposition force uses equipment and tactics similar to those used by Russia, including Polish versions of Soviet-era T-72 tanks, BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, other armored vehicles, drones, motorcycles, and ATVs. Business Insider reported that Ukrainian personnel help instruct the opposition force on how to behave so the training reflects real battlefield conditions.

That realism matters because Russian mechanized vehicles remain a threat, even as large-scale mechanized warfare has become less common in the war.

The article notes that tanks and armored vehicles played a larger role earlier in the war but have become vulnerable to mines and drones. Russian forces still conduct smaller, localized mechanized attacks, while motorcycles, quad bikes, and ATVs are being used for quick assaults and attempts to overwhelm positions.

These lighter vehicles offer less protection, but their speed can make riders harder to spot and target, which is why Ukrainian troops are training against them.

Camp Jomsborg’s training is shaped by Ukrainian feedback, including trenches built or updated according to Ukrainian instructions and tactics revised to match current operational needs. The mock Russian force also updates its equipment and methods as battlefield conditions change.

Norwegian officials described the effort not only as training for Ukraine, but also as a way for Norway and allied militaries to learn from Ukrainian battlefield experience.