The Pentagon is about to send 3,000 additional North Carolina troops to eastern Europe to help bolster NATO allies amid reports that Russian President Putin has now decided to invade Ukraine.
According to Reuters, “the U.S. troop deployment will come from the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina”.
The troops will be specifically deployed to US bases in Poland within the next few days.
These 3,000 troops will be in addition to the 8,500 troops that are now on high alert to be deployed to Europe, as well as 3,000 other troops that the Biden administration said would be deployed to Poland, Romania, and Germany earlier this month.
This afternoon, PBS Newshour’s Nick Schifrin posted about Putin’s decision to invade:
NEW: The US believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, and has communicated that decision to the Russian military, three Western and defense officials tell me.
— Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) February 11, 2022
Several countries around the world are now urging all citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, including the United States and Canada:
BREAKING: The White House urges Americans to leave Ukraine in the next 24 to 48 hours, and warns the U.S. won't rescue civilians if Russia invades. https://t.co/JgsUiB8GKB
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 11, 2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs urges Canadians to leave #Ukraine: https://t.co/xEK8sh4GNy pic.twitter.com/n892yCcjwN
— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) February 11, 2022
We will update this article as new information comes in.