Press Release - US Department of Defense establishes Security Assistance Group-Ukraine in Wiesbaden

Nov. 16, 2022

WIESBADEN, Germany —

The U.S. Department of Defense announced, November 4, the establishment of a new organization here to ensure America is postured to continue supporting Ukraine over the long term.

“The United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine's near-term needs on the battlefield and its long-term requirements to deter and defend against future Russian aggression,” said Sabrina Singh, Pentagon deputy press secretary. “To maintain the historic level of our ongoing security assistance support for Ukraine, I'm pleased to announce that the department will establish the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, what we will call SAG-U, which is a dedicated headquarters element in Wiesbaden, Germany and under U.S. European Command to coordinate our efforts.”

The headquarters will build on the work of the 18th Airborne Corps, who originally deployed to Europe to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and whose mission latter evolved to include coordinating the training and equipping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Singh said the SAG-U “will be similarly-scaled in scope” to the U.S. Army’s 18th Airborne Corps. The Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based unit deployed 300 personnel to the continent in February.

“The new 300 will ultimately come from the United States, and include individuals from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps,” said U.S. Army Col. Martin L. O’Donnell, U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs director and the command’s principal spokesperson. “They, along with Allies and partners, will coordinate the training and equipping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and also help to increase their situational awareness.”

Until the new American service members arrive in the next few months, personnel from U.S. Army Europe and Africa will oversee the mission.

No training or equipping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will occur at any of the U.S. military installations in Wiesbaden or in the German State of Hessen. Additionally, the U.S. military will not use the airfield on Lucius D. Clay Kaserne to transfer security assistance to Ukraine.

“None of that will occur here,” said O’Donnell. “SAG-U is simply a dedicated headquarters element that will coordinate security force assistance to Ukraine.”

For additional information, contact USAREUR-AF Public Affairs at +49 (0)611.143.537.0035 or media@army.mil.

  • U.S. Army Europe and Africa