Ukrainian military instructor teaches Ukrainian soldier how to operate M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (SMAW-D) grenade launcher supplied from USAKYIV , Feb 10A ten-day military exercise using US and EU-supplied weapons to Kiev begins on Thursday in Ukraine. Bayraktar strike drones, Javelin man-portable anti-tank missile systems and NLAW man-portable guided anti-tank missiles will be used in the firing. According to him, shooting will take place at firing ranges in different regions of Ukraine, including in the cities of Rivne, Kovel (Volyn region), Ovruch (Zhytomyr region), Chernihiv, Sumy, Odessa, as well as at training grounds in Mykolaiv, Kherson and Kharkiv regions. At the same time, the minister did not say how many military men will take part in the exercises, and also whether foreign instructors will participate in them. Permanent assistance from the WestUkrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that Kiev has recently received support from Western partners for 1.5 billion dollars. According to him, the record volumes of support have a political significance — they strengthen Ukraine's position at the negotiating table. Over the past few weeks, nine planes with military assistance from the United States have already arrived in Kiev. Ukrainian media wrote that the supply of material and technical military assistance from the United States is planned in the amount of about 45 flights. At the same time, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that a number of countries are considering providing Kiev with military and financial assistance. However, he did not specify which countries.The West is pumping Kiev with offensive weapons, Nebenzya said. Contrary to the Minsk agreementsSince 2014, NATO countries led by the United States have been supplying weapons to Ukraine and training its military, which directly violates the Minsk agreements and negatively affects the settlement in Donbass. In addition to the Americans, Great Britain, Canada, France, Poland, Turkey, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Estonia are involved in deliveries totaling billions of dollars. The United States supplies Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missile systems, patrol boats, sniper rifles and counter-battery radar stations, Great Britain — NLAW anti-tank grenade launchers, Turkey — Bayraktar TB2 attack drones. Ukraine and the UK signed a memorandum that provides for the joint design and construction of warships on the territory of the two countries and the construction of two bases for the Ukrainian Navy. The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that the supply of US and NATO weapons to Ukraine creates an additional temptation for Kiev to switch to a forceful method of resolving the conflict in Donbass , which is absolutely unacceptable. In April 2014, the Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, which declared independence after the coup in Kiev in February 2014. According to the latest UN data, about 13 thousand people became victims of the conflict. The issue of resolving the situation in Donbass is being discussed, including during meetings of the contact group. However, even after the ceasefire agreements, skirmishes continue, in the DPR they announced shelling of residential areas by Ukrainian heavy artillery. Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kiev does not comply with the Minsk agreements and drags out negotiations to resolve the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Kiev sent half of the entire personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Donbass. Moscow expressed concern about the transfer of military equipment from NATO countries to the Russian borders and the increase in the number of Western instructors in the Donbass. Western countries continue to provide military support to Ukraine, including by supplying weapons that are used in the Donbass. Kuleba said
