President Joe Biden ordered American troops already based in Europe to shore up the defenses of nations bordering Ukraine and directed SECDEF to temporarily move forces within the U.S. European Command to the Baltic Republics, Poland and Ukraine's southeastern flank. The forces will move within a week, DOD officials said early evening on Feb. 22. The deployment follows Russia's renewed invasion of eastern Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's mobilization of forces all along the borders of Ukraine. SECDEF ordered an infantry battalion task force of about 800 to deploy from Italy to the Baltics and the movement of up to eight F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Germany to locations on NATO's eastern flank. Twenty AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will deploy from Germany to the Baltics along with 12 Apache helicopters from Greece to Poland. All forces are under Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters U.S. European Command. There are about 90,000 U.S. service members based in Europe. (Source: DoD 02/22/22)
UPDATE: USA TODAY is reporting that Russia invaded Ukraine around 2 p.m. CT. Russia invades Ukraine. Effects on energy, US-Europe security and more (usatoday.com)
UPDATE2: MISSISSIPPI SENATORS REACT TO RUSSIAN SANCTIONS - Mississippi's U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith reacted to the president's announced sanctions against Russia. (Source: WTOK 02/22/22) Mississippi senators react to sanctions against Russia (wtok.com)
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