
The new German-sponsored brown-shirts in Ukraine
Tents from the USA, ballistic vests from France, and linen donated by locals - the cash-strapped Ukrainian government is using all available resources to make its forces battleworthy. But supplies won't help the troops' low morale or lack of experience.
Special operations units, Omega and Vega, have received new German-made uniforms, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday.
"The troops noted that the uniforms are a well-timed and an important gift, since they are though-out in all respects," the ministry said in a statement.
The uniforms were provided by Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenuk, judging from a thank-you note posted by Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on his Facebook page. It was not immediately clear whether Yatsenuk bought the uniforms with his personal money, allocated budget funds or received them from Germany as aid. Avakov said the uniforms were transported to Kiev's loyalist troops deployed near Slavyansk.
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said it will buy 24,000 bullet-proof vests for their troops with money collected through private donations. The vests are expected to arrive by the end of July. The ministry added that in addition to $10.4 million, it had also received donations of sleeping bags, linen and mattresses from the people.
Ukrainian troops, both in the army and in the interior forces, have been receiving plenty of gear lately, paid for by the government, private donations, or foreign sponsors of the Kiev regime. The US is expected to send $7 million worth of non-lethal aid to Ukraine to bolster its border guards, the Ukrainian military reported on Monday.
Comment: The U.S. Dept. of State should change their motto: "Finding better ways to blow people up."