US Plans to Send Additional Military Advisors to Kyiv

The Pentagon is considering the option of sending additional military advisors to its embassy in Kyiv. This was reported by Patrick Ryder, a representative of the U.S. Department of Defense. According to him, the advisors will provide guidance and support to the Ukrainian government and armed forces, but will not undertake combat duties.

According to sources from Politico, the number of advisors could be up to 60 individuals. “Throughout the conflict, the Department of Defense has reviewed and adjusted our presence in the country based on security conditions. Currently, we are evaluating the possibility of sending several additional advisors to expand the embassy's military cooperation section,” Ryder told Politico.

The Pentagon spokesperson noted that the military cooperation section of the embassy is led by the head of the diplomatic mission, although it is staffed by employees from the Department of Defense. Ryder declined to specify the number of personnel, citing operational security and force protection considerations.

Politico's sources indicated that additional military personnel are needed at the embassy to assist with logistics and the oversight of armaments sent from the U.S. One of the publication's informants stated that the additional forces will also help Ukrainian military personnel with weapon maintenance issues. It is mentioned that several American military personnel have already been sent to the embassy in Kyiv.

On April 20, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine and sanctioned additional aid for the country. The new aid package had been pending agreement in Congress since the fall of 2023.