Ukrainian children are being trained to use weapons against Russian soldiers as invasion fears grow

Ukrainian children are being taught how to use assault rifles to defend their country against Russian soldiers should they invade the Ukraine.

Children of all ages are being taught with wooden Kalashnikov rifles how to hold and aim the replica rifles to shoot at Russian soldiers.

Children and other civilians are being taught military tactics and battlefield first aid and are being trained to use assault courses in abandoned factories.

There is an estimated 130,000 Russian soldiers on the Ukrainian border and also in Belarus and Crimea.

The UK has provided the Ukraine anti-tank weapons, but foreign secretary Liz Truss said it was “very unlikely” that British soldiers would fight in Ukraine against Russian soldiers.

Turss told the BBC,” This is about making sure that the Ukrainian forces have all the support we can give them, whether it’s intelligence support, whether it’s cyber support, whether it’s defensive weapons, which we have been supplying into Ukraine.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke told Sky News, “We are very clear that if Russia takes further action against the Ukraine, then we will further tighten the sanctions regime targeting those businesses and people with the closest links to the Kremlin.”