KYIV, Ukraine — As Russia signals it’s ready to scale back military operations in the capital,soldiers from the 112th Brigade of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces in Kyiv are still training, fortifying their positions and getting ready to repel an attack by Russian ground forces— if they ever come here.

“I don’t take their statements seriously. That is why our soldiers are at their positions, continuing with their military assignments,” said Andriy Kovaliov, the brigade’s press officer. “Our planning has not changed; we are still defending Ukraine.”

The soldiers have moved in to a closed-down retail warehouse, one of a number of civilian locations in the capital to be converted into military defense posts since the war started. Here, the newly enlisted learn to fight on the job.

Until a few weeks ago, Arthur Pereverziev was managing a procurement reform project with the Defense Ministry, partnering with the United Kingdom. Now he operates a U.K.-supplied anti-tank missile launcher.

“We had training with a British instructor. We read a 110-page manual, did our homework.” he said. “We are ready.”

Mr. Pereverziev is one of over 165,000 Ukrainians who have joined the Territorial Defense, a special unit under the Ministry of Defense that armed civilians to help defend cities across the country.