The U.S. will train more Ukrainian troops And more

The Pentagon plans to train 600 to 800 Ukrainian troops — one battalion — each month in advanced battlefield tactics at a base in Germany, starting next year. That’s a major increase: Right now, the U.S. trains about 300 people each month.

President Biden approved the broader training effort this week, according to two U.S. officials. The Pentagon has already trained 610 Ukrainians to operate an advanced rocket launcher. The troops have used the system to devastating effect, hitting targets far behind Russian lines.

Next year, the U.S. will train bigger groups of Ukrainians on various strategies, such as coordinating ground infantry troops with artillery support. The decision to step up training comes as the administration is poised to send a Patriot antimissile battery, America’s most advanced ground-based air defense system, in response to urgent demands from Kyiv.

Other updates:

The U.S. announced new sanctions on prominent Russians.

A Ukrainian Army surveillance team is using infrared technology to try to locate and strike Russian positions.

Moscow’s propagandists are broadcasting clips from American cable news and Chinese media to spin a narrative that Russia is winning.

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