Ukraine trains 40,000 storm brigade troops for counter-offensive

Recruits of the Steel Border storm brigade practise at the unit's base in central Ukraine March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Yarysh

CHERKASY REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) - More than a year into Russia's full-scale invasion, Aleks, a translator with no prior military experience, was advancing through forest with rifle raised, training to ambush enemy forces in one of Ukraine's newest military units.

Border of Steel is one of eight new storm brigades totalling 40,000 soldiers that Ukraine wants to use during a counter-offensive against Russian occupiers in coming weeks or months.