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Deputy Chief of the UK Defense Staff confirmed that the Royal Marines have taken part in covert operations in Ukraine.
The UK authorities informed the public that the Royal Marines were deployed to ensure security of the British embassy in Ukraine but said nothing about their participation in special operations in that country. Meanwhile, a Royal Navy spokesman said that they “served no combat function.”
Cited by The Times, British Lieutenant General Robert Magowan admitted that marines from 45 Commando Group not only escorted British diplomats in Kiev but also took part in other “covert operations” in Ukraine in an “extremely sensitive environment” in the first half of 2022. He noted that their missions involved “a high level of political and military risk.”
In an article written in Globe and Laurel, the official publication of the Royal Marines, Magowan explained how 350 Marines from 45th Commando were sent to escort diplomats from the British Embassy earlier in the year, when it had become clear that Russian forces were preparing for military operations in Ukraine.
At the beginning of the year, the soldiers were engaged in exercises in Norway, when they were immediately redeployed to Poland to help with the evacuation procedures of diplomatic personnel in Kiev.
“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. The go-to 999 international emergency force, if you will,” Magowan said.
The commandos also returned to Kiev in April to ensure the security of the embassy as the United Kingdom was re-establishing its diplomatic representation following the withdrawal of Russian troops from around the Ukrainian capital.
“Later, in April, they returned to the country to re-establish the diplomatic mission, providing protection to personnel. During both phases, the commandos supported other covert operations in an extremely sensitive environment and with a high level of political and military risk”.
London’s Defense Ministry had previously acknowledged the sending of a commando to protect embassy personnel, however only admitting the presence of 30 soldiers.
Magowan also said that the UK plans to begin to train Ukrainian marines.
“We have been heavily involved in training hundreds of Ukrainian military personnel throughout this summer. We are also planning to train Ukraine marines,” he was quoted as saying.
