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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ukraine crisis: British trainers assist Ukrainian military | Ukraine crisis: British trainers assist Ukrainian military |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British military personnel have started training members of the Ukrainian army fighting pro-Russian rebels, the BBC has learned. | British military personnel have started training members of the Ukrainian army fighting pro-Russian rebels, the BBC has learned. |
| The 35 trainers are working in the southern city of Mykolaiv and will spend about two months in the country. | The 35 trainers are working in the southern city of Mykolaiv and will spend about two months in the country. |
| They will train forces in eastern Ukraine in medicine and defensive tactics and give non-lethal equipment. | They will train forces in eastern Ukraine in medicine and defensive tactics and give non-lethal equipment. |
| The Ukrainian PM said he "truly appreciated" the support, while the deployment was criticised by Russia. | The Ukrainian PM said he "truly appreciated" the support, while the deployment was criticised by Russia. |
| The deal was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron last month. | The deal was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron last month. |
| It is the first time a Western nation has conducted a long-term military training programme in Ukraine since its war against pro-Russian rebels began last year. | It is the first time a Western nation has conducted a long-term military training programme in Ukraine since its war against pro-Russian rebels began last year. |
| According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon has delayed a training programme for Ukrainian soldiers because it fears it could give Russia a reason to end the the current peace deal. | |
| Ceasefire | Ceasefire |
| A ceasefire took effect on 15 February following an agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, and has largely held despite sporadic shelling. | A ceasefire took effect on 15 February following an agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, and has largely held despite sporadic shelling. |
| The British government is also supplying first aid kits, sleeping bags and night-vision goggles as part of its pledge to provide assistance and more British teams are expected to arrive in Ukraine over the coming weeks. | The British government is also supplying first aid kits, sleeping bags and night-vision goggles as part of its pledge to provide assistance and more British teams are expected to arrive in Ukraine over the coming weeks. |
| BBC correspondent Tom Burridge said the deployment of dozens of military instructors was a symbolic move that would not alter the military balance of the war. | BBC correspondent Tom Burridge said the deployment of dozens of military instructors was a symbolic move that would not alter the military balance of the war. |
| The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk welcomed the assistance in his country, which he said was defending "peace and stability" in Europe. | The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk welcomed the assistance in his country, which he said was defending "peace and stability" in Europe. |
| He told the BBC the trainers would "help increase the durability of the Ukrainian military". | He told the BBC the trainers would "help increase the durability of the Ukrainian military". |
| Mr Yatsenyuk said he saw the help as a "first step" and expected further assistance would come from other EU countries and the US, adding: "Please help us to defend our country and your peace." | Mr Yatsenyuk said he saw the help as a "first step" and expected further assistance would come from other EU countries and the US, adding: "Please help us to defend our country and your peace." |
| Conflict zone tension | Conflict zone tension |
| Dmitry Pveskov, press secretary to President Putin, told journalists the deployment would not relax tensions in the conflict zone. | Dmitry Pveskov, press secretary to President Putin, told journalists the deployment would not relax tensions in the conflict zone. |
| He said: "A presence of foreign instructors in Ukraine cannot facilitate the settlement of the conflict in this country. | He said: "A presence of foreign instructors in Ukraine cannot facilitate the settlement of the conflict in this country. |
| "Of course, it has been stated repeatedly that it does not contribute to the strengthening of trust or relaxation of tension in the conflict zone. | "Of course, it has been stated repeatedly that it does not contribute to the strengthening of trust or relaxation of tension in the conflict zone. |
| "It can be clearly said that it does not contribute to the settlement." | "It can be clearly said that it does not contribute to the settlement." |
| The United States has already said it is planning to send a battalion to train three Ukrainian battalions. | The United States has already said it is planning to send a battalion to train three Ukrainian battalions. |
| More than 6,000 people have died since the fighting in Ukraine erupted last April, the UN has estimated, although the organisation believes the real figure could be considerably higher. | More than 6,000 people have died since the fighting in Ukraine erupted last April, the UN has estimated, although the organisation believes the real figure could be considerably higher. |