Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: The presence of resistance leaders at the negotiations and the signing of the agreement, after "Israel" attempted to assassinate them in Qatar, is a humiliation for the occupation.
Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: The agreement will be signed in the presence of Resistance leaders, led by Hamas, with senior official Khalil al-Hayya set to sign the agreement.
Trump to Fox News: I believe Iran is going to be involved in the peace situation.
Trump: Gaza will be rebuilt.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The occupation forces continue their violations, and warplanes are entering Gazan airspace at this moment.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The fate of thousands of civilians and journalists remains unknown.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The occupation forces continue bombing various areas of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We renew our pledge to our brave prisoners and their families that they will remain at the heart of our priorities, and we will not rest until the last prisoner enjoys freedom.
Hamas: We are awaiting the final approval of the names ahead of announcing them through the Prisoners’ Media Office.
Hamas: We affirm that we have submitted the lists of Palestinian prisoners according to the agreed-upon criteria within the framework of the agreement.

US plans to send up to 200 contractors to Ukraine for arms repair work

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Politico
  • 3 Feb 2023 21:45
4 Min Read

This matter is of serious concern because it could be an excuse to send US troops disguised as contractors in Ukraine. 

  • x
  • Alexander Vindman photographed on July 25, 2019. (Wall Street Journal)
    Alexander Vindman photographed on July 25, 2019 (Wall Street Journal)

Politico revealed on Thursday that a group of former US military officers is planning to send contractors to Ukraine for the purpose of repairing weapons damaged during combat. 

This matter is of serious concern because it could be an excuse to send US troops disguised as contractors to Ukraine. 

The group lobbying for this plan is made of former US officials and private donors and is headed by a retired army officer named Alexander Vindman.

Vindman was born in Ukraine but immigrated to the US very early in his life. 

He is mainly reputed for his role in testifying about former US President Donald Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019 over Hunter Biden's abuse of US military assistance to conduct covert operations in Ukraine. 

Read more: Germany to deliver 88 Leopard I tanks to Kiev

Since the start of the Ukraine war, Vindman witnessed developments in arms supply and thought that certain changes ought to be made with regard to maintenance works. 

"We’ve got all sorts of resources going into depots and advanced bases in Poland, mainly, and inside Ukraine basically they’re on their own," Vindman said in an interview.

Normally, when weapons or armed vehicles get damaged, they get sent to Poland for maintenance work. But it takes so much time for them to be fixed and then sent back to Ukrainian troops.

If a base gets opened in Ukraine for weapons repair, it would save much more time for Ukrainian troops to receive their weapons back, he argues. 

Vindman said his group managed to secure enough funds to launch a pilot project in March and received support from one anonymous company that said they would assist with the provision of materials to Ukraine, the report states.

Related News

Trump says Gaza phase one agreed on, to give speech in Israeli Knesset

Hamas announces reaching an agreement for ceasefire in Gaza

They are currently looking to find between 100 and 200 experienced contractors willing to take part in the project called Trident Support. 

US President Joe Biden has previously said he would not send tanks to Ukraine to avert the start of World War III - but he did that just days ago.

He also previously said he would not send American troops to fight in Ukraine but with groups lobbying for contractors to be sent to Ukraine like Vindman's, things might take another course. 

There is also a possibility that "thousands of non-American mechanics qualified to work on US and NATO equipment who could be recruited," the report states. 

Read more: Russians gain upper hand in Donetsk

Speaking about the possible scenario of avoiding US contractors getting killed, injured, or captured by Russian forces, Vindman said that there was one way of avoiding this, and it would involve "using what we call ‘third country nationals’ where it’s not American."

"The biggest challenges are that the US government currently is deeply reluctant to put defense contractors on the ground," Vindman said. "That means that people are getting paid to repair stuff in Poland, but that doesn’t satisfy the warfighting capability of the Ukrainians. So this would be a kind of a policy change."

Vindman likened his project to that of Afghanistan and Iraq wherein troops, cooks, maintenance workers, and communication officers were all involved in the process. 

"If you’re doing this [project] smartly, and you’re distributing five or six facilities [across Ukraine], you could do this for about 150 to 200 mechanics," set up at various locations, Vindman said.

Moreover, smaller-scale operations are more viable than larger ones because the latter would be easily targeted by Russia. Nearly all of Ukraine's weapons-making facilities were swiftly destroyed in the first weeks of the conflict. 

Other issues are addressed in the interview but all in all, the announcement of such a plan makes it possible for the US to get its troops involved directly against Russia.

Read more: Time may be on Russia's side in Ukraine, say Western officials: WSJ

  • United States
  • Alexander Vindman
  • Russia
  • Abrams Tanks
  • Ukraine
  • Joe Biden
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS