The efforts will be based on initial artillery training given to a small number of Ukrainian forces elsewhere, and will also include training on radar systems and armored vehicles recently promised by the United States in Kyiv, Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters.
The Florida National Guard will provide “most of the training,” as these forces trained Ukrainian troops before leaving Ukraine in anticipation of Russia’s February 24 invasion, Kirby said.
“The recent reunion of these Florida National Guard members with their Ukrainian counterparts, they tell us, was an emotional encounter given the strong bonds they formed as they lived and worked together before temporarily parting ways in February,” Kirby said.
According to the Pentagon, the United States is training another 100 Ukrainians in artillery systems in Europe in a five-day course. Washington has said it will send a total of 90 shells to the war-torn country as part of two $ 800 million each in security assistance packages announced earlier this month.
Another 15 Ukrainians have been training on radar for about a week.
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The troops will then return to Ukraine to train fellow soldiers on how to use the systems.
Kirby also noted that Germany is one of “about three” sites used by the United States to train Ukrainians outside their country, but did not say where the other sites were.
In addition, the United States is considering the option of conducting virtual training with Ukrainians on some defense equipment, Kirby said.
