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First group of Ukrainians completed training at US base in Germany

by Mike Brest, Defense Reporter
February 17, 2023 04:05 PM

he first Ukrainian battalion completed its training in Germany by U.S. forces this week, the Pentagon announced on Friday.

Roughly 635 Ukrainian service members completed the approximately five-week combined arms training on the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at Grafenwoehr Training Area, and another group is already being trained, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

Roughly 710 Ukrainian troops have already begun training at Grafenwoehr on the M2 Bradley vehicles two weeks ago, while a field artillery battalion began training at the same time on the M109 Paladin, a self-propelled howitzer that the US recently announced it will send to Ukraine.

Another 890 Ukrainian forces, a second field artillery battalion, and a Stryker battalion will begin receiving instruction on the M1126 Stryker next week, marking the first unit that will receive such instruction.

The 7th Army Training Command is leading the training, which is being overseen by U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine.

“It represents a continuation of a worldwide effort led by the U.S. and supported by more than 50 nations to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war, which began nearly one year ago,” Ryder added.

Ukraine is expected to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks looking to liberate occupied territory, while Russia is planning to do the same.

The Biden administration has provided Ukraine with roughly $27 billion of military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded nearly a year ago. While President Joe Biden has repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to aiding Ukraine, he has been hesitant to provide certain weapons, while the U.S. and other European countries have sought to train Ukrainians on the weapons they’re getting.

ARTICLE

“Russia’s central bank says falling rouble driving inflation higher”
Reuters
February 17, 202312:06 PM EST
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russias-central-bank-says-falling-rouble-driving-inflation-higher-2023-02-17/

UPDATE 1-Russia’s central bank says falling rouble driving inflation ...
https://www.kitco.com/news/2023-02-17/UPDATE-1-Russia-apos-s-central-bank-says-falling-rouble-driving-inflation-higher.html

Today, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Russia’s central bank said on Friday that inflationary pressures across the economy had remained strong during the first two weeks of February, citing a slump in the rouble as a factor. Russia recorded inflation of 11.8% on an annual basis in January, almost three times the central bank’s ...

Russia’s central bank said on Friday that inflationary pressures across the economy had remained strong during the first two weeks of February, citing a slump in the rouble as a factor. Russia recorded inflation of 11.8% on an annual basis in January, almost three times the central bank’s official 4% target. It signalled last week it was preparing to raise base interest rates to cool inflation.

“Operational data for the first two weeks of February indicate the trend towards increased price pressures continues,” the bank said on Friday in a report.

Prices across Russia have been extremely volatile in the year since Russia invaded Ukraine - with a period of rapid inflation following the imposition of Western sanctions followed by months of deflation as capital controls pushed the rouble higher.

But falling revenues from crucial oil and gas sales have again hit the Russian currency this year. The rouble has fallen 16% since the start of December, when a European Union embargo and G7 price cap on Russian crude sales came into force.

“The exchange rate has already affected (prices of) the most import-dependent products in January, and if the rouble remains at its current level, this will continue to have a pro-inflationary effect in the coming months,” the bank’s analysts said in the report.
(Reporting by Jake Cordell; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and John Stonestreet)