France and Britain Lead First Multinational Exercise for Ukraine Support Force
2,800 troops from ten European nations will test deployment procedures in Poland next week, aiming to secure a path to post-ceasefire stability without an offensive mandate.
By Rafael Bailey ·
France and the United Kingdom will lead the first operational drill for the Multinational Force, Ukraine (MNF-U) in southeastern Poland starting November 9. The exercise, named Koalicja, runs through November 22 and involves 2,800 soldiers from ten countries. The force was established in 2025 and maintains an operational headquarters in Paris.
The MNF-U is not a NATO operation and involves limited participation from the United States. Its mandate is strictly defensive. The force will deploy only after a ceasefire ends the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Its goals include supporting Ukrainian armed forces, securing Ukrainian airspace, and allowing economic activity to resume in the Black Sea.
France will contribute the largest contingent with 1,100 troops. The United Kingdom will send 300 soldiers. Other participants include Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. These nations will conduct air and land operations near the town of Nowa Deba. This location sits 100 kilometers west of the Ukrainian border.
French General Armel Dirou and British Lieutenant General Tom Bateman will co-lead the drill. Dirou stated that the exercise serves as a concrete demonstration of the force's ability to deploy immediately after hostilities end. He emphasized that the goal is to prepare for deployment by overcoming logistical and cultural issues between different militaries.
Bateman clarified that the force is not a peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring mission. He said it is not designed for offensive operations. The purpose is to provide reassurance and support the regeneration of Ukraine's armed forces. This aims to strengthen their ability to deter and defend against future Russian aggression.
UK Defence Minister Wes Streeting described the force as real and ready to help Ukraine once fighting stops. He noted that the exercise tests the speed and efficiency with which nations can deploy forces on land, sea, and air. A joint statement from the French defence ministry echoed this, highlighting the test of deployment mechanisms after hostilities finish.
Turkish forces will lead a separate maritime simulation from Istanbul. This tests preparedness for mine-clearing operations in the Black Sea. Turkish troops will not participate in the land exercise in Poland. Officials expect only light equipment, such as drones, to be deployed in Poland for anti-drone and self-defence drills. No tanks will be present.
Dirou stated that the exercise is not a show of force or an attempt to flex military muscles. Bateman added that the drill will assess coordination arrangements and the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies. It will also evaluate whether the different components can integrate and operate effectively as one multinational force.
