Army WILL be slashed by 10,000 soldiers despite ongoing Ukraine war
PLANS to slash the Army by 10,000 soldiers will be confirmed in a forces update this week.
The Defence Command Paper, to be presented to MPs in coming days, will not backtrack — despite a review in light of Ukraine.
A reduction to 72,500 fully trained soldiers was unveiled in 2021 but opposed by outgoing Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Defence sources say without additional funding, extra troops would be at risk of fighting with poor kit and weapons.
One said: "The fate of the Russian armed forces shows what happens when you send troops into battle without the proper support."
Instead, the review will focus on lessons learnt in Ukraine — including how Russia was hampered because of ill-equipped troops and poor use of intelligence and electronic warfare.
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Whitehall insiders say additional funding requests to reverse troop cuts failed to move the Chancellor and PM.
Yesterday, Wallace announced he would be quitting as Defence Secretary.
But Tory MPs fear Rishi Sunak will install an ultra-loyalist such as Treasury Minister John Glen to replace him.
Mr Glen recently posed with troops training on Salisbury Plain in his capacity as the MP for the local area.
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But one senior MP said: "He's recently taken a keen eye on all things defence, and would do the Treasury's bidding."
Last night Tory MPs came out to praise the outgoing defence secretary for his stint at the top of the party.
Dame Andrea Leadsom told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: "We owe him a great debt of gratitude.
"He's done a great job at a very, very difficult time. He's really, I think, demonstrated on behalf of the Government a real commitment to support Ukraine.
"There is a world in which Russia did invade Ukraine and then what would have been next, so I think the UK's determination to get the rest of the world, the rest of Europe and the United States to really support Ukraine is in small part down to Ben's own determination."
Defence Minister Andrew Murrison insisted that the UK would continue to back Ukraine even after Mr Wallace stands down.
He told Times Radio: "I don't think it changes our response to the war in Ukraine, under Rishi Sunak that's been absolutely cast iron, there's no question about that.
"Ben has put in place what needed to be put in place at that time to ensure we face down this aggression from Putin's Russia, that can't be undone and I'm sure whoever takes over from Ben will continue that."