One other 500 troops are Europe-bound, the Pentagon introduced Monday, in assist of NATO international locations as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues by means of its second week.
The brand new deployment isn’t in response to any modifications on the bottom, a senior protection official informed reporters, however a part of the roughly 12,000 troops which were placed on heightened alert to deploy since early February.
“These enablers have been already type of queued as much as go in,” the official mentioned. “Once more, it’s totally supportive of our efforts to have the ability to defend NATO airspace if wanted.”
They embrace:
- An unspecified quantity KC-135 Stratotankers to Souda Bay, Greece, with 150 airmen from Fairchild Air Power Base in Spokane, WA.
- Air assist operations to Romania and Poland with 40 troops from Fort Stewart, Georgia.
- 300 troopers from an ordnance firm out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and a upkeep firm from Fort Stewart, Georgia to assist 1st Armored Brigade Fight Crew, third Infantry Division, who left for Germany starting Feb. 27.
The five hundred troops are a part of a dedication of seven,000 that the Protection Division introduced on Feb. 25.
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The transfer brings the entire of U.S. troops activated to assist NATO international locations, or particularly as a part of the NATO Response Power, since February to 14,500. They’re unfold out from Estonia on the northern finish of NATO’s border right down to Romania.
As of Monday, the official mentioned, the Protection Division believes that almost 100% of Russian 190,000 troops amassed alongside Ukraine’s border earlier this yr have moved into the nation.
On the similar time, Russia’s efforts to advance on and take main inhabitants facilities proceed to be sluggish. Regardless of combating outdoors of cities, the official mentioned, no main inhabitants facilities are underneath Russian management and Ukrainian airspace continues to be in play.
“It seems as if the Russians are rising their use of long-range fires to complement, or to make up for, the dearth of floor actions that they’ve had and the dearth of air superiority, that they don’t take pleasure in,” the official mentioned.
Russia has launched greater than 625 missiles, the official added., together with some aimed toward civilian infrastructure and residential areas.
“After which on the convoy, I don’t have an replace for you,” the official mentioned. “We consider it’s nonetheless stalled, nonetheless not shifting, and that it was principally designed as a resupply convoy. There have been some fight components in there, however once more, the convoy isn’t going anyplace, and it hasn’t gone anyplace, considerably over the weekend.”
Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Navy Instances. She covers operations, coverage, personnel, management and different points affecting service members. Observe on Twitter @Meghann_MT
