FISM News
January 11, 2023

Ukraine update: Kyiv forces to receive defense system training in U.S.

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that Ukrainian soldiers will be brought to the U.S. to begin training on the use of the Patriot missile defense system promised to Kyiv last month.

“Training for Ukrainian forces on the Patriot air defense system will begin as soon as next week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

“The training will prepare approximately 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers to operate, maintain and sustain the defensive system over a training course expected to last several months.”

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“The Patriot will contribute to the air defense capabilities that Ukraine already has,” he continued, noting that the advanced system will enable Kyiv’s forces “to take down…ballistic missiles, adversary aircraft…,” Ryder said.

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U.S. army tanks and military vehicles arrived at the Dutch port of Vlissingen on Wednesday before heading to Poland and Lithuania, both of which share a border with Russia, as part of efforts to shore up NATO’s eastern flank.

“There’s about 1,250 pieces of military equipment coming into this port,” Col. Robert Kellam, who is overseeing the operation on the U.S. side, told Reuters.

The equipment includes M-1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The vehicles will remain at the port for an unspecified period, under the guard of Dutch armed forces, before continuing east.