US evacuates all remaining soldiers from Ukraine, says Pentagon
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The troops will be repositioned "elsewhere in Europe," says Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby.
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U.S. Army Paratroopers at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. Feb. 8, 2022.  (U.S. Army photo)
The Pentagon confirmed Saturday that the US is removing nearly all of its remaining troops from Ukraine, as fears of a Russian invasion of the eastern European country rise.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "has ordered the temporary repositioning of the 160 members of the Florida National Guard" who were in the country "advising and mentoring Ukrainian forces," Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement.
The troops will be repositioned "elsewhere in Europe," according to Kirby, "with the safety and security of our personnel foremost in mind."
.@SecDef has ordered the temporary repositioning of @FLGuard troops out of Ukraine. Abundance of caution, safety and security of our personnel his paramount concern. We remain committed to our relationship with the Ukrainian armed forces.
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) February 12, 2022
"This repositioning does not signify a change in our determination to support Ukraine's Armed Forces, but will provide flexibility in assuring allies and deterring aggression," Kirby added.
Earlier, the US ordered all non-emergency Kyiv embassy workers to leave the country.
On Friday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed that a Russian invasion of Ukraine "could begin at any time" including during the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Russia has repeatedly denied any intention to invade Ukraine while pointing to NATO's military activity as a threat to Russian national security.
Just a couple of days after 2,000 US troops land in Europe to "assist" Kyiv against Russia, London has also pitched in, sending more than 100 of its special forces advisors to the Ukrainian capital to train and aid the Ukrainian military.
UK troops to leave Ukraine
UK's armed forces minister, James Heappey, announced today that British troops whose official role is helping with training in Ukraine will leave the country this weekend, claiming that Russia can attack at any time.
Heappey said the "small number of UK personnel" assigned to train Ukrainian troops on anti-tank missiles would be removed, along with roughly 100 others whose role is wider army training as part of what the UK names Operation Orbital.
