U.S. Air Force to join Clear Sky drills in Ukraine

September 19, 2018 (112.UA) Combat aircraft of the U.S. Air Force will participate in the Clear Sky military drills that are to be hosted in Ukraine soon. Stars and Stripes reported that; the Ukrainian defense ministry also confirmed this information. The large-scale aviation exercise is to involve the vehicles and crews from nine countries - Ukraine, the U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

'Announcement of the Clear Sky multinational exercise comes days after Ukraine said it would establish a new naval base along the Sea of Azov to counter a more assertive Russia. The U.S. plans to send about 450 personnel from bases in the States and in Europe, a U.S. Air Forces in Europe spokesman said Tuesday. About 250 will participate in the exercise, including pilots and maintainers; the remainder will be in support roles', reads the story. Clear Sky 2018 will be held mostly in the area of Starokostyantyniv air base, central Ukraine; it is scheduled for the middle of October.