President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the Joint Efforts 2020 exercises are another evidence of Ukraine's strong international support in defending its territorial integrity and security in Europe.
During a working trip to Mykolayiv and Kherson regions, President Zelensky watched the course of the Joint Efforts 2020 strategic command and staff exercises held with the involvement of certain military command bodies of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, command bodies of other components of the defence forces and designation of actions of the troops, the press service of the Head of State informs.
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"This is another signal of Ukraine's strong international support in defending its territorial integrity and security in Europe. Our combat experience is becoming part of combat training programs that are highly valued around the world. The evidence of this is the participation of representatives of our partner countries in the exercises," President Zelensky said at the Interdepartmental Training Center for Military Units "Shyrokyi Lan" when watching the tactical actions during the brigade exercises of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade.
According to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander of the troops of the operational command "North", the units practised the assault of settlements, attacking the unprepared defence, attacking the enemy's front line, fighting for control over company bases in the first position, the use of tactical airborne troops.
Near the village of Lvove in Kherson region, the President of Ukraine and the ambassadors of the participating countries, including Chargé d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Kristina Kvien, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza, and Chargé d'Affaires of the United Kingdom in Ukraine Nicolas Harrocks, watched the tactical exercises of the 3rd battalion tactical group of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the company tactical group of the 16th Air Assault Brigade of the British Armed Forces.
In the area of Kinburn Spit near the village of Vynohradne, the control of a concentrated fire strike was practised. As commander of the troops of the operational command "South" Ihor Palahniuk informed the President, the strike was carried out with MLRS "Vilkha", "Uragan" on the objects in the depth of the enemy's defence. The use of Bayraktar UCAV was also tested.
After that, tactical exercises of the 124th separate territorial defence brigade took place in the port of Skadovsk. In particular, the defence of the seaport, the coast and the repulse of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance forces were practised. In the exercises, the Ukrainian brigade used the experience of the Estonian Defence League.
"I am satisfied, like all Ukrainians, with our army, and grateful to everyone who defends our sovereignty and territorial integrity. I think that these exercises are very important because they are not just some kind of training, but exercises that are as close as possible to reality, to war. I know that the British and other partners from the Alliance involved in these exercises see that the war in the east of the country has taught us many things, our military work at the highest level," the President said.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak thanked for the facilitation in granting Ukraine the NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status and praised the participation of the NATO troops in the Joint Efforts 2020 exercises.
"Today our cooperation is full of practical content. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the Joint Efforts 2020 strategic command and staff exercises are held according to the NATO standards. The participation of partner countries in the exercises is a strong signal of solidarity," the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized.
The Joint Efforts 2020 strategic command and staff exercises are held on September 22-25.
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