Rapid Trident 2016, the international military exercises involving Ukraine and the United States launched on the territory of the Yavoriv Training Center in western Ukraine

The opening ceremony took place at the central military base of the range, in the village of Starychi in the Yavoriv district, on Monday morning.

“The presence of such a powerful cohort of our partners and comrades-in-arms demonstrates broad international support for the Ukrainian people’s fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as a democratic country,” Ukrainian Armed Forces North Operative Command Deputy Commander Col. Eduard Moskalev said at the ceremony.

Rapid Trident 2016 involves more than 1,800 servicemen from 13 countries, the exercises’ press center said. There will be command-and-staff and field drills. Participants will be practicing tactical elements of their assignments with due account of the experience of deterrence of hybrid warfare.

Over 200 pieces of military hardware, including two Mil Mi-8 helicopters, will be participating in the drills.

Ukraine has assigned a brigade of the Ground Forces, Airborne Forces and Marine units, military school cadets and National Guard units to the exercises.

The drills will last until July 8.