U.S. Instructors Spotted On Donbass Frontlines: Report
The press officer of the People’s Militia of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) Ivan Filiponenko claimed that instructors from the United States had taken part in the training of Ukrainian artillerymen in Eastern Ukraine. The claim was made during the daily briefing on April 17.
According to Filiponenko, the training of Ukrainian forces took place near the village of Pokrovske.
“The trainings of the UAF 40 separate artillery brigade were attended by US instructors stationed at the Yavoriv training range,” Filiponenko said.
The press officer noted that foreign specialists were carried to the spot by white vehicles with the special marks of the Ukrainian representative office in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination. This was made in order to ensure secrecy.
The US forces are reportedly deployed at the Yavoriv training range in Lviv region, Western Ukraine, as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group (JMTG-U).
Filponenko also claimed that a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter arrived at the northern LPR front line, admitting that it could deliver foreign instructors who arrived to train the UAF in sabotage and reconnaissance operations and mining works.
On April 17, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal claimed that Ukraine had asked the United States to increase the military presence of its troops on its territory, first of all, this concerned US military instructors.
According to US Charge d’Affaires in Ukraine Christina Kvin, there are 160 American troops in Ukraine on a permanent basis, but if necessary, their number can be increased.
Currently, the foreign instructors in Ukraine are mainly Americans and Canadian military personnel. They are deployed in Ukraine since 2015.
On April 15, WarGonzo reported that 150 Turkish service members had arrived in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on the coast of the Sea of Azov. Locals reportedly said that they were probably Turkish special forces. Meanwhile, Turkish military is known to train Ukrainian forces to use newly-acquired Bayraktar TB2 combat drones.
It seems that the Ukrainian soldiers are not good students. On April 17, one Bayraktar TB2 combat drone reportedly lost signal over Ukrainian southern regions.
The US drone was also spotted on April 17, surveying DLPR borders.
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