The first group of more than 600 Ukrainian soldiers has completed US training, including large-scale maneuvers that could help Ukraine in its future operations against Russia, the Pentagon said on Friday, according to AFP.

“This week, the Ukrainian 1st Battalion completed joint training on the Bradley M2 at the American base in Germany,” Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

The United States has agreed to supply Ukraine with more than 100 Bradleys — armored infantry vehicles armed with 25mm cannons and an anti-tank missile launcher — to launch a Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces in the coming months.

“Approximately 635 Ukrainians underwent five weeks of training, which included basic soldier duties such as marksmanship, as well as medical training,” Ryder said.

One mechanized battalion and one artillery battalion began training two weeks ago, and two more battalions are scheduled to begin training next week.

The US, which has already trained the Ukrainian military to use the various weapons promised to Kyiv, announced at the end of last year the expansion of the training program.

Such training took place in Ukraine before Russia invaded the country in February 2022.

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