French Special Forces Secretly Trained to Prepare for Potential Deployment in Ukraine

France secretly conducted large-scale military exercises codenamed ‘Perseus ’ last fall, simulating the deployment of special forces in Ukraine to repel a hypothetical Russian breakthrough from Belarus, the French outlet Intelligence Online reported on January 15.

The week-long training exercise, held under strict secrecy, mobilized the entire personnel of the French Army’s Special Operations Command. The exercises were conducted in a region selected for its resemblance to the terrain of the Dnipro River in the northern Kyiv region, closely replicating conditions for potential combat scenarios.

“Throughout the week, the training tested the actions and equipment of 3,200 soldiers,” the report stated. “The focus was on tactical use of drones, electronic warfare measures, radio reconnaissance, and the interoperability of units in high-intensity combat scenarios.”

The drills drew from Ukraine’s successful tactics in resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Key participants included the 1st and 13th Parachute Regiments of the Special Operations Command, supported by auxiliary units providing technical and informational assistance. Notably, the Interagency Operations Center contributed satellite image analysis, enhanced by continuous flights of reconnaissance drones, such as the Chinese-made thermal imaging Mavic 3T, that are being extensively used on the frontlines in Ukraine.

The 6th Technical Reconnaissance Company played a significant role by jamming enemy radio frequencies and tracking emissions from Russian communication systems like ‘Akveduk,’ ‘Arahis,’ and ‘Azart.’ Meanwhile, the 712th Cyber Operations Company monitored social media platforms, particularly Telegram, to gather intelligence on enemy troop movements.

Despite the integration of advanced technologies, the report noted a notable shortfall: the absence of training on attack FPV drones could have significantly enhanced operational effectiveness.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met at Chequers, the 16th-century country residence of British Prime Ministers located 60 kilometers from London, where Ukraine was the focal point of their discussions.