U.S. to Train More Ukrainian Troops

The United States will expand its current training programs for troops in Ukraine to include army and special operations military forces, the State Department said Friday.

The training will likely focus on lessons in tactics and combat medicine, Reuters reports. The expanded program will not include any lethal weapons or aide, a State Department spokesman told reporters.

The U.S. began providing security assistance to Ukraine in 2014, with troops training Interior Ministry national guard units to strengthen the country’s security in the face of threats from Russia-backed rebels. Including this expanded training program, the U.S. will have spent over $244 million on supporting Ukraine since last year.

[Reuters]

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Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com.