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Britain sends military trainers to assist Ukrainian army

Xinhua, March 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Britain has sent 35 military trainers to help members of the Ukrainian army, local media reported Thursday.

The British trainers are based in Ukraine's southern city of Mykolaiv, and will be training Ukrainian forces in medicine and defensive tactics, and supplying non-lethal equipment, BBC reported.

Last month, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced that Britain would send up to 75 military personnel to help train Ukrainian forces.

Earlier this month, Fallon confirmed that Britain would provide a new package of non-lethal equipment to Ukraine, including helmets, night vision goggles, global positioning units, laptops and first aid kits.

"This gift of non-lethal equipment is designed to prevent further Ukrainian fatalities and casualties and to help improve situational awareness on the ground," the minister of defense said in a statement.

"Our overall aim is to strengthen the defensive capability of the Ukrainian armed forces and build the resilience that they need," Fallon added.

British Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed last month Britain was not going to supply lethal equipment to Ukraine "at this stage," but stressed the need to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Endit