US deploys paratroopers to Ukraine in training role

Moscow criticises the sending of the 900 US soldiers as an escalation

The US has deployed paratroopers to Ukraine to help Ukrainian units train in several exercises over the next six months.

But the move has been met with criticism from Moscow and pro-Russian separatist rebels, who are arguing that the deployment could destabilise the security situation in the country.

Some 900 Ukrainian national guardsmen, are receiving training from the US troops. Their unit, which is made up of volunteers, is currently being integrated into the Ukrainian regular army.

The volunteer units have played an important role in Ukraine's defence against the siege by Russian-backed separatist rebels, holding the town of Shyrokyne, a town near the port city of Mariupol, which has seen some of the heaviest fighting in recent weeks.

The US troops are a detachment from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which is normally based in Italy and has trained with Ukrainian forces before.

The Russian administration is unhappy about foreign troops training their adversary, who they claim to be "ultranationalists," with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich saying that the troops had "stained themselves with the blood of women, children and the elderly during their punitive operations".

Clashes continue in Ukraine, in violation of the cease-fire treaty signed in February. Both sides are accusing the other wanting to resume the conflict.

The UN Human Rights Commissioner's office estimates that at least 6,116 people have been killed in the past year of fighting between the rebels and the government.