US Department of Defense Deploys Additional 500 Troops to Europe... "100% of Russian Forces Deployed to Ukraine"

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense (left), is attending the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Defense Ministers Meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, last February, conversing with Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General (right).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, the United States is deploying an additional 500 troops to Europe to support its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies. The total number of U.S. troops in Europe, including permanent and rotational forces, is confirmed to be around 100,000.

According to CNN and others on the 7th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of 500 troops and combat assets to Europe. A senior Defense Department official stated that the deployment includes sending KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft to Greece, but did not disclose how many or from where in the U.S. they would be dispatched.

The U.S. Department of Defense is establishing air support operation centers in Poland and Romania and dispatching maintenance companies to Germany. The official confirmed that these companies will provide additional logistical support to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team and the 3rd Infantry Division already deployed in Germany.

He explained, "This additional deployment is only 500 troops," adding, "We have stated that we do not rule out additional deployments, including support troops, in the early stages of troop deployment. These units are already supporting forward-deployed forces."

Accordingly, the U.S. military will have approximately 100,000 troops deployed in Europe, including existing permanent and rotational forces.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to increase shelling of major cities such as the capital Kyiv and the second-largest city Kharkiv. The official pointed out, "Long-range shelling, bombing, rocket attacks, and missile strikes are increasing," adding, "They are targeting civilian residential areas and infrastructure."

It is understood that 100% of the Russian troops initially gathered near the Ukrainian border have now been deployed into Ukraine. He mentioned, "The Russian military has fired more than 625 missiles so far."

Meanwhile, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 1,200 civilian casualties, including 406 deaths, have been reported in Ukraine. The actual death toll is estimated to be much higher. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that since February 24th until early this month, there have been 16 attacks on medical facilities such as ambulances in Ukraine, resulting in at least 9 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.