U.S. considering sending more military personnel to Ukraine

By kevinhughes // 2024-04-25

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The United States is considering sending more military advisers to its embassy in Ukraine, according to a statement from the Department of Defense (DOD). Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in an interview with Politico that the advisers would serve in non-combat roles, mainly assisting logistics and checking deliveries of American weapons, which Washington admits it often cannot track once they arrive in Ukraine, and supporting with their maintenance. "Throughout this conflict, the DOD has reviewed and adjusted our presence in-country, as security conditions have evolved. Currently, we are considering sending several additional advisers to augment the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) at the Embassy," Ryder said in a statement, mentioning that "personnel are subject to the same travel restrictions as all embassy employees." Ryder added that the ODC "performs a variety of advisory and support missions … and while it is staffed exclusively by DOD personnel, it is embedded within the U.S. Embassy, under Chief of Mission authority like the rest of the Embassy." The news arrives as the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $61 billion aid bill for Ukraine, with the Pentagon stating the package will include "things like air defense and artillery capabilities."

Supplementary troops to support logistics and oversight efforts

Even though Ryder did not specify how many advisers would be delivered to Kyiv, saying "operational security and force protection reasons," sources acquainted with the details told Politico that the number could be up to 60. The supplementary troops will support logistics and oversight efforts for the weapons America is sending Ukraine, as stated by four U.S. officials and a person acquainted with the plans, who were given anonymity to talk about a sensitive subject. The latest contingent will also support the Ukrainian military with weapons maintenance, as reported by one of the U.S. officials and a person familiar with the plan. A small number of U.S. troops have already been sent for short rotations attached to the embassy in Kyiv, two of the U.S. officials said, with the second official describing the numbers as "onesies and twosies." Those personnel are assisting with oversight and embassy security. Ukraine is struggling to recover the drive on the battlefield in the wake of a failed counteroffensive last summer, along with more recent losses aggravated by a decreasing supply of foreign ammunition. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently acknowledged that "things on the battlefield begin to shift a bit in Russia's favor," with Kyiv's forces struggling "in terms of holding the line." As reported by Politico, the advisers would be assigned to help the Ukrainians with recently delivered equipment as the conflict is anticipated to increase during the summer. Despite the fact President Joe Biden promised that American troops will not be deployed to fight Russia in Ukraine, Moscow has warned that it regards the U.S. and other NATO members de facto participants in the war. Ukraine has cried for more artillery, air defenses, long-range missiles and fighter jets, which frontline troops and major politicians assert would help the Ukrainians push through Russian lines and hold their positions. The news that the U.S. is deploying additional forces to Ukraine arrives as senior officials warned last week that Russia has been gathering momentum. (Related: House Speaker Johnson pushes foreign aid spending bills allocating a combined $87 BILLION on Ukraine and Israel.) Follow UkraineWitness.com for more news about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Watch this clip of House Speaker Mike Johnson speaking to the press following the passage of the aid package for Ukraine. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Supplementary troops to support logistics and oversight efforts

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