US soldiers land in Poland amid Russian-Ukrainian tensions

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The 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps arrived in Poland on Saturday to augment the forces currently available in the country as Russia remains ready for a possible invasion of Ukraine.

The soldiers left Fort Bragg on Thursday and arrived in Poland 24 hours later. The force of around 1,700 troops, made up mainly of the 82nd Airborne Division, will remain stationed in Poland to help “deter and defeat Russian aggression”.

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Another 300 service members will travel to Germany to establish Combined Joint Task Force Dragon.

US Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who led the evacuation from Kabul and was the last soldier out, will lead the forces as they deploy to the NATO-allied nation.

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“The rapid deployment and arrival of this corps within 24 hours of notification once again demonstrates our ability to deploy at a moment’s notice,” said XVIII Airborne Corps spokesman Capt. Matt Visser. “Our corps’ presence serves to reinforce existing U.S. forces in Europe and demonstrates our commitment to our NATO allies and partners.”

Donahue’s deployment with the 82nd will serve as a strategic message to Putin that the United States may have withdrawn from Afghanistan but is still ready to deploy elite forces when needed.

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There are about 7,000 registered Americans in Ukraine and another 25,000 unregistered. The State Department and other agencies are urging U.S. citizens to leave as soon as possible because noncombatant evacuations are unlikely to happen if Russia takes control of the airspace above the country.

Donahue’s presence in the country should therefore serve as a comfort should the situation deteriorate. The United States has pledged to deploy about 3,000 troops to Poland and Romania as additional cover if a possible Russian invasion pours into NATO countries.

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The United States deployed Level 1 special operators last week to kill the leader of the Islamic State in Syria – an area where Russia operated and controls airspace.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

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