--- title: "Coalition of the Willing to Hold First Koalicja Exercises in Poland with Ukraine's Participation" description: "The Coalition of the Willing will hold its first Koalicja exercises in Poland: from November 9 to 22, military personnel from a dozen countries, including Ukraine, will practice command and logistics for a potential deployment to Kyiv following a ceasefire." date: 2026-11-02T20:56:35.805Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/coalition-willing-koalicja-exercises-poland tags: [coalition-of-the-willing, poland, military-exercises, ukraine, nato, security-guarantees] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Coalition of the Willing to Hold First Koalicja Exercises in Poland with Ukraine's Participation ![Ukrainian serviceman in a field holding a reconnaissance drone](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/02/koalitsiya-zhelayushchih-ucheniya-koalicja-polshe/koalitsiya-zhelayushchih-ucheniya-koalicja-polshe-1.webp) ## Key Points - From November 9 to 22, 2026, the first exercises of the "coalition of the willing" called Koalicja will take place in Nowa Dęba, Poland, with Ukraine's participation. - According to RBC-Ukraine and Censor, nearly 2,800 servicemen from ten countries are involved in the maneuvers; The Times, citing sources, mentions about 1,500 troops from four countries. - The goal of the exercises is to test command and logistics for a potential force deployment in Ukraine after a ceasefire, rather than to demonstrate combat power. - The US is not participating in the operation; NATO has been informed but is not directly involved. The "Coalition of the Willing" — an informal alliance of European states established in the spring of 2025 to support Kyiv and built around London and Paris — is moving from declarations to practical training for the first time. Exercises codenamed Koalicja are scheduled for November 9, 2026, in the Polish town of Nowa Dęba, with Ukraine reportedly taking part. This is the first publicly announced deployment of alliance forces in a region bordering Ukraine, and it sets the framework for discussing what the military presence of Western countries might look like after a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. ### What and Where Will Be Practiced According to RBC-Ukraine and Censor, nearly 2,800 servicemen from ten countries are expected to concentrate near the Ukrainian border for this initial deployment. The exercises will run until November 22. At the same time, observers emphasize that this is not a show of force involving tanks and missiles: the main stated goal is to test the command system and logistical procedures related to the movement of troops and equipment across Europe. These functions — rather than combat maneuvers — are considered key to a future peacekeeping operation in Ukraine after the conflict ends. ### The Role of the US and NATO The United States is not participating in the Koalicja operation, and its role in future security guarantees for Ukraine remains largely undefined. NATO, in turn, has been informed of the exercises but is not directly involved in them. Thus, the maneuvers formally take place outside the framework of the North Atlantic Alliance and represent an independent initiative of the "coalition of the willing," which highlights its status as a separate political and military entity. ### The Logistical Complexity of Border Crossings As the French publication Le Monde notes, the deployment task is complicated by the need to cross numerous state borders within Europe. This is why the exercises focus on practicing the mechanisms for transferring personnel and material resources, coordinating transit, and managing cooperation between the armed forces of various countries. Essentially, Koalicja serves as a rehearsal for how an alliance of a dozen or more states could physically deliver its forces to Ukrainian territory in a short timeframe after a ceasefire. ### Context: From Security Guarantees to Practice The exercises in Poland fit into the broader process of forming security guarantees for Ukraine, which has been underway within the "coalition of the willing" since its inception. Previously, media reported on the number of peacekeepers the West might send to Ukraine after hostilities cease, and RBC-Ukraine indicated that European countries would begin practicing the ceasefire peacekeeping deployment scenario precisely in November. The first Koalicja exercises thus mark the initial practical stage of this process, with an emphasis on command, logistics, and intergovernmental coordination rather than combat deployment. ## Accounts differ ### Number of participants and countries in the Koalicja exercises - **RBC-Ukraine / Censor:** Nearly 2,800 servicemen from ten countries, including Ukraine, will take part in the exercises. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/koalitsiya-ohochih-provede-polshchi-pershi-1793652514.html)) - **The Times (citing sources, via news.mail.ru):** About 1,500 troops from Britain, Poland, Germany, and France will take part in the initial exercises. ([news.mail.ru](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72752378/)) *Where they agree:* The Koalicja exercises will take place in November 2026 in Poland and serve as a rehearsal for a potential force deployment in Ukraine after a ceasefire, with an emphasis on command and logistics. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Коалиция желающих проведет в Польше первые военные учения](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/koalitsiya-ohochih-provede-polshchi-pershi-1793652514.html) - Primary source: Koalicja exercises on Nov 9–22 in Nowa Dęba, ~2,800 troops from 10 countries, Ukraine participating, US not participating, NATO informed. - ["Коалиция желающих" проведет первые военные учения в Польше: в них примут участие 2800 ...](https://censor.net/ru/news/4031689/koalitsiya-jelayuschih-provedet-voennye-ucheniya-v-polshe) - Confirms the November 9 start and the figure of ~2,800 servicemen from ten countries, including Ukraine. - [«Коалиция желающих» проведет первые учения с военными четырех стран в ноябре](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72752378/) - The Times, citing sources, mentions about 1,500 troops from Britain, Poland, Germany, and France — a discrepancy with the 2,800/10 countries figure; confirms the deployment rehearsal after a ceasefire. - [Потренируются на Польше. На берегах Вислы построят полигон для бандеровцев](https://inosmi.ru/20260831/polsha-279932922.html) - Подтверждено по источнику inosmi.ru ## FAQ ### When and where will the Koalicja exercises take place? The exercises are scheduled for November 9, 2026, in the Polish town of Nowa Dęba and will run until November 22. ### How many servicemen and from how many countries are participating? According to RBC-Ukraine and Censor, nearly 2,800 servicemen from ten countries, including Ukraine. The Times, citing sources, mentions about 1,500 troops from four countries (Britain, Poland, Germany, France). ### What is the purpose of the exercises? To test the command system and logistical procedures for a potential force deployment in Ukraine after a ceasefire, rather than to demonstrate combat power. ### Are the US and NATO participating? The US is not participating in the operation, and its role in security guarantees remains undefined. NATO has been informed about the exercises but is not directly involved.