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The British Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that UK troops and Royal Air Force (RAF) jets will participate in a multinational military exercise in Poland. The drill, named Exercise Koalicja, is intended to prepare for security requirements in Ukraine following the conclusion of its conflict with Russia.
The exercise was agreed upon during a Coalition of the Willing summit in July. It marks the first maneuver conducted by the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), which serves as the military branch of the Coalition of the Willing. The stated goal is to ensure that forces are prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine when active fighting stops.
Approximately 2,800 personnel from 11 nations—Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the UK—will participate in the drill from November 9 to 22. The UK contribution includes 300 soldiers from the Army’s 7 Brigade, known as the Desert Rats, alongside RAF Typhoon jets and a Voyager refueling aircraft. The exercises will simulate moving troops and supplies such as food and fuel, while Turkish forces in Istanbul will rehearse maritime mine clearance to help restore commercial shipping to Ukrainian ports.
The exercise directly involves 2,800 military personnel from 11 nations who will be deployed to Poland and surrounding areas for two weeks in November. For the 300 UK troops involved, the exercise involves rehearsing logistical movements for a post-conflict environment. The operation involves 11 different countries coordinating the movement of supplies like food and fuel.
The drill also addresses commercial sectors, specifically aviation and shipping. RAF jets will simulate how they would reassure commercial aviation once Ukrainian airspace reopens. By simulating these activities, the MNF-U is establishing operational procedures, while the participation of Turkish forces in mine clearance exercises is intended to help restore commercial shipping through Ukrainian ports.
The exercise establishes the MNF-U as a deployable force tasked with Ukraine's long-term stability. Lieutenant General Tom Bateman, commander of the MNF-U, stated the goal is to ensure the Armed Forces of Ukraine are in the strongest possible position to deter future aggression. No specific date for a permanent deployment into Ukraine has been reported, as the force is intended to support Ukraine "once the fighting stops."