WASHINGTON, March 30. /TASS/. The United States has completed the training of 65 Ukrainian servicemen to use US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder told reporters on Thursday.

"Just this week, 65 Ukrainian Air defenders completed Patriot training at Fort Sill Oklahoma, and have now arrived back in Europe," he said, adding that they will be integrating with other Ukrainian air defense specialists to use "donated Patriot air defense equipment from the United States, Germany and the Netherlands."

In his words, the United States has trained more than 7,000 service members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces so far, while its 26 allies - over 11,000. The training program began in April 2022 and involved "40 different programs of instruction on more than 20 systems."

He also said that "in Germany, at the close of this month, more than 4000 Ukrainian soldiers and two brigades - one equipped with Bradleys and one equipped with Strykers [armored fighting vehicles] - have completed combined arms training and have returned to Ukraine."

Currently, two Ukrainian motorized infantry battalions, comprising 1,200 service members in total - are being trained in Germany. Another 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen have already completed a similar course.