Ukraine demonstrates to the UK that traditional 'tactically safe' methods for clearing trenches are ineffective in chaotic, booby-trapped environments

The UK had assumed trench operations could be executed in a precise, orderly manner, according to a British officer who trained Ukrainian forces. However, in Ukraines ongoing conflict, trenches are irregular, chaotic, and heavily booby-trapped, forcing a reconsideration of traditional Western methods.

A British military instructor involved in Operation Interflex told Business Insider that Ukraines trenches do not conform to the UKs standard tactically safe approach, which relies on uniform, methodically cleared positions. The experience has prompted adjustments to UK training practices for troops preparing to face modern battlefield conditions.

Messy Trenches and Real-World Challenges

Trench networks along the Ukrainian front resemble the complex earthworks of World War I. Unlike the orderly designs taught in the UK, Ukrainian trenches are inconsistent, often leaving natural obstacles like tree roots intact. The emphasis is on speed and survival rather than perfect construction, especially under constant artillery fire and drone attacks.

In the UK, trenches are built to specific standards, with treated wood and gravel for drainage, the officer said. In Ukraine, thats rarely the case. Soldiers adapt quickly to the situation, focusing on whats necessary to survive in combat.

Adaptation Under Pressure

Ukrainian forces operate under extreme urgency, constantly refining tactics in real time. While British doctrine emphasizes careful, slow advances for tactical safety, Ukrainian soldiers prioritize speed and flexibility, navigating complex trench systems filled with multiple exits, booby traps, and improvised defenses.

Evacuation and medical assumptions familiar to Western militaries are also challenged. In Ukraine, wounded troops may remain on the front line for hours or days before reaching care, underscoring the harsh realities of trench combat in this conflict.

Traps and Tactical Innovation

Trenches in Ukraine are heavily rigged. Russian forces create fake trenches to lure attackers into explosives and leave booby traps in abandoned areas or even on bodies. Ukrainian soldiers respond with inventive defensive measures, from mirrored booby traps reminiscent of Vietnam-era tactics to continuously expanding entrenchments along the front lines.

Unlike Western doctrine, which focuses on improving and fortifying fixed positions, Ukrainian forces dig continuously wherever they stop, resulting in trench systems of unprecedented scale and complexity.

Lessons for the UK

The UK and its allies are closely observing these developments. Operation Interflex has trained over 56,000 Ukrainian soldiers, incorporating their frontline experiences into the program. Ukrainian methods are often integrated into the training, blending Western and local tactics to create a more effective approach.

Were not here to impose our doctrine, the officer said. We show different methods, and often the Ukrainians experience informs the course itself. The result is a combination of NATO and Ukrainian practices, producing a strategy more effective than either alone.

Ukraines unique approach to trench warfare is reshaping how the UK and other Western militaries understand and prepare for future conflicts.

Author: Grace Ellison