Washington intends to send private military companies to Ukraine
The United States plans to send a small number of private military contractors to Ukraine to perform technical maintenance on US weapons, a US defense official said Friday.
The United States, Kyiv’s main backer and which has allocated more than $60 billion in military aid since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, has so far banned American private military companies from operating in Ukraine.
“These personnel will be away from the front lines and won’t be involved in combat against the Russian military,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“They will help the Ukrainian military quickly repair and maintain US-supplied equipment, as needed, so that it can return to the front line quickly”.
“We’re taking this step because some of the US equipment that has been delivered to Ukraine — or will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months — such as F16 aircraft and Patriot air defense systems, requires specific technical expertise to maintain,” he added, noting that this decision was made “after a careful assessment of the risks”.
Washington has supplied Ukraine with a wide range of military equipment, including HIMARS rocket launchers, tanks and other vehicles.
However, Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election raises questions about the future of US aid to Kiev.
Before the Republican president-elect is inaugurated in January, the administration of outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden is seeking to spend all the budget money allocated to Ukraine.
