US forces complete extensive training for the first group of Ukrainian soldiers

The Pentagon announced Friday that US forces have completed an extensive training course for the first group of more than 600 Ukrainian soldiers, which included maneuvers that could support Kiev in its upcoming offensive operations.

“This week, the first Ukrainian battalion completed a joint military exercise on the M2 Bradley combat vehicle in the Grafenfuer region in Germany,” Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

The United States has agreed to provide Ukraine with more than 100 Bradley armored vehicles, armed with automatic cannons and also capable of firing anti-tank missiles, as Ukrainian forces are expected to launch a counterattack against Russian forces in the coming months.

“Some 635 Ukrainians have completed a training period that lasted approximately five weeks, which included basic tasks for soldiers,” Ryder added.

He pointed out that a field artillery battalion began training two weeks ago, and two other battalions are scheduled to join them next week.

The United States announced the expanded training program at the end of last year, after it had begun preparing Ukrainian soldiers to use different weapons systems and promised to provide them to Kiev.

This program represents a return to the type of training that was taking place inside Ukraine before Russia invaded it in February 2022.