Sputnik News, Thursday, March 19, 2015 (And see below articles on U.S. plans.)
Some 35 UK military instructors have started training Ukrainian soldiers fighting against pro-independence militias in the east of the country, the BBC reported Thursday. The UK instructors arrived in Ukraine’s southern city of Mykolaiv and are expected to stay for two months, improving Ukrainian troop skills in defense and medical aid, according to the news outlet.
British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the training assistance in late February. The United Kingdom is also providing the country with other forms of non-lethal aid.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that the United States will launch a training program for 780 Ukrainian National Guard soldiers “as soon as possible.”
Canada and Poland have also expressed the intention to send military advisers to Ukraine.
The standoff between Kiev and pro-independence forces of the Donbas started April 2014 and has killed over 6,000 people, according to UN estimates. The warring sides have signed a ceasefire deal, which entered on February 15.
Read also:
U.S. to train Ukraine’s National Guard in April; Parliament approves foreign soldiers on Ukraine soil, Tass, March 17, 2015
DoD moves forward on Ukraine National Guard training, by U.S. DoD, March 20, 2015
