Koalicja 26.2: the first full-scale exercise of the multinational force for Ukraine
Koalicja 26.2 is the first full-scale exercise of the "coalition of the willing", the military component of a future Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U). The main part takes place in Poland at the Nowa Dęba training area, with a headquarters component in France and a maritime component off Istanbul. It is led jointly by the United Kingdom and France; Estonia and Lithuania are among the participants. The aim is to rehearse command and the logistics of moving, protecting and supplying troops that would be sent to Ukraine only after the fighting ends.
Key facts
- Dates: 9–22 November 2026 (UK Ministry of Defence announcement, as reported by Anadolu on 03.11 and Interfax on 07.11).
- Scale: about 2,800 foreign troops from 11 countries according to the UK Ministry of Defence; according to Poland's defence ministry as relayed by UA.News, almost 2,000 Polish troops come on top, for a total of about 5,000.
- Participants: Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
- Location: Nowa Dęba training area (south-eastern Poland); the multinational force headquarters in France; a maritime mine-clearance part off Istanbul.
- Who runs it: the United Kingdom and France jointly.
What is being rehearsed
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the exercise tests command structures and procedures for moving, protecting and supplying troops and equipment to support Ukraine after the fighting stops, as well as coordination among MNF-U members. Turkish forces off Istanbul rehearse mine clearance so that commercial shipping can safely return to Ukrainian ports. The British ministry says the force would deploy to Ukraine only after fighting has ended and at the Ukrainian government's request, and would not undertake peacekeeping or ceasefire-monitoring duties.
Russia's reaction
On 7 November Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said deploying foreign contingents in Ukraine was "categorically unacceptable" and that Russia's armed forces would treat such units as "legitimate targets". She called the exercise's start on the eve of Russia–US–Ukraine consultations in Abu Dhabi proof that "Europeans have nothing to do at the negotiating table" (Interfax; IANS via Xinhua).
Discrepancies in the sources
- Number of countries. Interfax speaks of "11 countries" but lists ten, omitting Türkiye; Anadolu names Türkiye as the eleventh.
- Troop numbers. 2,800 refers to foreign contingents according to the UK; about 5,000 includes Polish troops according to Poland's defence ministry. No single official total from the organisers was found.
- Location. Xinhua, as carried by IANS, wrongly places the exercise "in Ukraine"; all other sources say Poland.
What it means for the Baltics
Estonia and Lithuania are taking part in an exercise that Moscow has explicitly tied to its "legitimate targets" threat. The exercise is held on NATO territory, although the Alliance itself does not take part: this is a coalition of individual states. Its timing alongside the Abu Dhabi talks makes Koalicja 26.2 part of the argument over whether Europe gets a seat at the table.
Frequently asked questions
When and where does Koalicja 26.2 take place?
From 9 to 22 November 2026; the main part is at the Nowa Dęba training area in Poland, with headquarters in France and a maritime part off Istanbul.
How many troops take part in Koalicja 26.2?
About 2,800 foreign troops from 11 countries according to the UK Ministry of Defence, plus almost 2,000 Polish troops according to Poland's defence ministry, for about 5,000 in total.
Do the Baltic states take part?
Yes, Estonia and Lithuania are on the list of participants. Latvia does not appear in the published lists.
Is this a NATO exercise?
No. It is an exercise of the "coalition of the willing" led by the UK and France; NATO as an organisation does not take part.
Sources
- Anadolu (03.11.2026), citing the UK Ministry of Defence announcement
- UA.News (04.11.2026), citing Poland's defence ministry
- Interfax (07.11.2026): Russian Foreign Ministry statements
- IANS via Xinhua (07.11.2026)
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