KYIV. Sept 18 (INTERFAX) - A combined Ukrainian-American unit has held its first joint live-fire drill as part of the Rapid Trident 2019 exercise, which began on the grounds of the International Peacekeeping and Security Center (IPSC) of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Force Academy on September 17.
"U.S. Army Battalion Commander Lieut. Col. Michael Stars said that the exercise was a major breakthrough in NATO-Ukrainian relations, having demonstrated the compatibility of our countries' military units," the Ukrainian Ground Force said on Facebook.
Under the exercise plan, Ukraine is suddenly invaded by an aggressor state. Having occupied a certain areas, "nominal little green men" set up a defense position. The Ukrainian-U.S. unit is tasked with driving out the enemy and destroying its command-and-control station.
"The live fire exercise involved a mechanized-infantry platoon from an IPSC unit and a U.S. Army infantry platoon. Artillery fire adjustment and maneuvering were jointly provided by troops from the [Ukrainian] 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and the U.S. servicemen. [. . .] All combat operations were carried out using army-issued vehicles: the Ukrainians used BMP-1s [infantry fighting vehicles], and the Americans, the HMMWVs [High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles]," the statement said.
The platoons and operation were led by a U.S. officer, the company commander.