Troops from 15 nations kicked off the annual Rapid Trident field training exercise today in northwestern Ukraine.
Navy Capt. Greg Hicks, director of communication and engagement for U.S. European Command, emphasized in a statement that the exercise is annual, and that it was planned well before the current situation in Ukraine.
About 1,300 military personnel from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United States, as well as representatives from NATO, will participate.
The exercise will take place near Yavoriv at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, which is designed to support multinational training and exercises with regional and bilateral partners, Hicks said.
In preparation, units underwent a week of situational training that focused on key exercise tasks such as countering improvised explosive devices, convoy operations and patrolling.
No live-fire exercises are scheduled for Rapid Trident, Hicks said. The exercise will conclude Sept. 26.
Â