Avakov: U.S. coaching mission in Lviv region to begin on April 20
KYIV. March 30 (Interfax) - United States Armed Forces servicemen will arrive in the Yavoriv range in the Lviv region on April 20 for long-term coaching of Ukrainian National Guard units, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.
"Two hundred and ninety U.S. paratroopers will land on the Yavoriv range in the Lviv region on April 20 to begin long-term coaching and exercises between the 173rd U.S. airborne brigade and National Guard units under an agreement with the U.S. Department of State," Avakov wrote on Facebook on Sunday evening.
The coaching program will involve 900 National Guard servicemen, the minister said. "There will be three groups, 300 National Guard servicemen in each. The three training courses will last for eight weeks each. Then joint exercises will be held," Avakov wrote.
"When the exercises are over, U.S. partners will supply the trained National Guard Units with special hardware and communication systems," he said.
It is expected that Ukraine will hold a number of military exercise with the U.S. on the Ukrainian territory in 2015. In particular, the Yavoriv district in Ukraine's Lviv region will host the Ukrainian-U.S. Fearless Guardian 2015 drills March through November 2015. Up to 2,200 servicemen with weapons and military hardware are to participate: up to 200 men from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, up to 1,000 men from the National Guard of Ukraine, and up to 1,000 men from the U.S. Armed Forces.
From July to October 2015, the Yavoriv international center for peacekeeping and security will host the Ukrainian-U.S. Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident 2015 exercise. The total number of participants will be up to 2,100 servicemen with weapons and military hardware. Namely, there will be up to 1,000 men from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, up to 500 men from the U.S. Armed Forces, and up to 600 from NATO member states and countries participating in the Partnership for Peace program.