US troops arrive in Ukraine to train national guard units, a move criticized by Moscow
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About 300 US Army paratroopers have arrived in Ukraine for training exercises with national guard units, a move criticized by the Kremlin and eastern Ukraine's Russia-backed separatist rebels.
The troops, from the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade, are to spend several weeks training a total of about 900 Ukrainian national guardsmen. The guardsmen are to come from units including the Azov Battalion, a far-right formation notorious for using an insignia used by many military units in Nazi Germany.
Though fighting has diminished substantially since a February cease-fire deal, clashes continue and each side accuses the other of wanting to resume the conflict.
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On Friday, the UN Human Rights Commissioner's office said at least 6,116 people have been killed since the fighting broke out a year ago.