Within 2 weeks, they were scheduled for a joint peace operation. The staff from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine were trained in polygonal conditions. The cyclical exercises "Three Swords", organised by the LITPOLUKRBRIG Multinational Brigade, took place in Lublin.
Planning of peace support operations based on the MDMP (Military Decision Making Process) process – this was the task of “Three Swords” training management to officers from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. The staff received 2 weeks to make a plan for the appropriate usage of affiliated troops to LITPOLUKRBRIG. “This is 1 of the most important, if not the most crucial exercises in our three-year training cycle,” he emphasises Colonel Piotr Lisowski, Commander of the Grand Hetman of Constant Ostrogski Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade.
A command post was set up at the Lublin police station. After receiving the order, the staff members began to work. “To plan the peace support operation properly, we have utilized the MDMP planning and decision-making process,” explains Captain Alexander Molodtsov, press officer LITPOLUKRBRIG. “The staff analysed the phase after the stage, each aspect to prepare the operation decently and to usage the subdivisions at its disposal in an appropriate manner,” notes Captain Molodtsov.
According to the adopted scenario, the affiliated subdivisions were grouped in selected areas. From the beginning, they were to engage in support of the local population. The battalions developed their own directions of action all the time, implementing subsequent decisions of the advanced Command (HICON) – this function was carried out by the LITPOLUKRBRIG staff. However, the conditions under which the troops operated changed all the time. “We had to respond to, among another things, the actions of criminal groups or the fight against misinformation, and our commanders flexiblely approach the situation by changing the guidelines that came to us,” admits Captain Alexander Molodtsov.
The staff continued to receive data from the commanders of individual divisions. Based on facts, he made further decisions. another aspects of the situation, including the terrain or weather conditions, were besides regularly analysed by the staff of the multinational brigade in order to end the mission safely without endangering their own troops. All battalions were active in the final actions. – The aim was to coordinate the effort in 1 area and at the same time and to distribute the work and tasks accordingly. This, in turn, was a warrant of liquidity and the safe conduct of the operation – admits press officer LITPOLUKRBRIG.
Two weeks of staff maneuvers brought a affirmative consequence to the question of whether the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade could plan and carry out a peace support operation. “These operations are 1 of our flagship actions, so we are perfectly prepared for them,” said Colonel Piotr Lisowski. The commander of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade points out that the 3 Swords exercises confirm full interoperability and brigade capabilities. – Working in an global environment is not easy, but has many advantages. We take advantage of our own experiences, and each nation brings added value to our activities," said Colonel Lisowski.
The staff convinces that action in the global environment can draw attention to more aspects of modern war theatre. “The experience of Ukrainian officers is invaluable to us. After all, they have the top cognition of the situation beyond our east border. All of this we effort to usage and analyse during joint exercises – noted LITPOLUKRBRIG officers.
Three Swords exercises were organised for the second time. The first edition took place in 2021 at a polygon centre in Jaworów, Ukraine. This was the consequence of an agreement between the chiefs of general staff of Poland and Ukraine. This year's edition involved, among others, the Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion from Lithuania, the Command Battalion of the 19th Mechanized Brigade, the 3rd Zamojski Mechanized Battalion, the operational groups of the 14th Self-Trigger Artillery Division, the 21st Anti-aircraft Artillery Division, 21 Logistical Battalion and representatives of the 18th Polish Bomb Squadron, as well as an operational group from the command and landing and assault forces from Ukraine.
