Editor’s word: This story has been up to date to appropriate the variety of troops which have arrived in Poland so far, and to incorporate a quote from Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue.
RZESZOW-JASIONKA, Poland — A number of dozen elite U.S troops and gear had been seen touchdown Sunday in southeastern Poland close to the border with Ukraine on President Joe Biden’s orders to deploy 1,700 troopers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Lots of extra infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division are nonetheless anticipated to reach on the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Poland’s border with Ukraine. A U.S. Air Drive Boeing C-17 Globemaster airplane introduced just a few dozen troops and autos.
Their commander is Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who on Aug. 30 was the final American soldier to go away Afghanistan.
“Our nationwide contribution right here in Poland reveals our solidarity with all of our allies right here in Europe and, clearly, throughout this era of uncertainty, we all know that we’re stronger collectively,” Donahue mentioned on the airport.
Biden ordered extra U.S. troops deployed to Poland, Romania and Germany to reveal to each allies and foes America’s dedication to NATO’s japanese flank amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. NATO’s japanese member Poland borders each Russia and Ukraine. Romania borders Ukraine.
The division can quickly deploy inside 18 hours and conduct parachute assaults to safe key goals. Primarily based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the division’s historical past goes again to 1917.
Earlier within the week, U.S. planes introduced gear and logistics troops in preparation for the arrival of parts of the division to the airport, situated 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Poland’s border with Ukraine.
Polish troopers have beforehand labored along with the U.S. division on missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, in response to Maj. Przemyslaw Lipczynski, a spokesman for the Polish Army’s 18th Mechanized Division.
Some 4,000 U.S. troops have been stationed in Poland since 2017 on a rotating foundation.
