
The UK government said Friday it was deploying about 8,000troopsfor exercises across easternEuropein a show of strength afterRussia's invasion of Ukraine.
The months-long drills in countries stretching from Finland to North Macedonia also involve allies including France and the United States, defence officials said in a statement.
Britainis deploying 72 Challenger 2tanksand 120 armoured fighting vehicles along with artillery guns, helicopters and drones for the exercises, some of which are already underway.
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"The security ofEuropehas never been more important," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said, calling it "one of the largest shared deployments since the Cold War".
The officer in command, Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse, saidBritainwas making "a significant contribution to the defence ofEuropeand the deterrence of Russian aggression".
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"The British Army's series of exercises is fundamental to both."
Britainhas been supplying missiles to Ukraine to fight back againstRussia, and says it is ready to help withtanksand planes via partners such as Poland.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Wednesday that "the whole of Ukraine" must be liberated, including Crimea, after the peninsula was seized byRussiain 2014.