WIESBADEN, Germany —
U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe officials, say the planned troop repositioning in Poland, which the U.S. Army command announced yesterday, will not affect support to Ukraine.
“We are still providing the same level of support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine consistent with direction from U.S. European Command, and we are still in Poland,” said U.S. Army Col. Michael Weisman, senior Army spokesperson in Europe. “The facilities in Jasionka were temporary, and moving operations like supply, warehousing, and transportation to enduring locations elsewhere in the country with more permanent infrastructure better facilitates those operations.”
NATO echoed the U.S. Army command’s sentiments.
“The repositioning and the concurrent transition to a NATO lead, through NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, is ongoing,” said U.S. Army Col. Martin O’Donnell, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe spokesperson. “Neither action will affect the U.S. or NATO’s ability to provide security assistance to Ukraine, which is also ongoing.”
O’Donnell also highlighted that the move of U.S. personnel and equipment within Poland was pre-planned, and made in close coordination with Allies and partners, and NATO, as mentioned in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa announcement.
The move also follows NATO’s assumption in January of command and control from the United States of air defenses at Jasionka, which continue.
Consolidating and optimizing the locations from which USAREUR-AF provides support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was the result of months of collaborative planning, in coordination with Ukrainian partners, the Polish Ministry of National Defence, and other Allies and partners also using the site at Jasionka.
In several instances, specific maintenance capabilities moved to Jasionka to provide maintenance assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine on U.S.-provided equipment are now being accomplished by Ukrainian forces themselves inside Ukraine without assistance from U.S. forces.
“Jasionka Airport and its surrounding area served as an excellent strategic location for the U.S. and its Allies to support Ukraine over the past three years, thanks to the exceptional hospitality of our Polish military and civilian Ally,” said U.S. Army Col. William Laase, Deputy Director for Logistics at U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “However, we are transitioning to other, more permanent bases of operation in Poland that are more capable of meeting Ukraine’s needs and use infrastructure that currently support our own activities.”
USAREUR-AF still provides and coordinates training and equipping to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine through a variety of persistent efforts, including but not limited to the Security Assistance Group – Ukraine based in Wiesbaden, and Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine at Grafenwoehr Training Center, which continues to train thousands of Ukrainian armed forces since relocating there from western Ukraine in 2022.