Military personnel from Nato member and partner countries have concluded multinational exercises, codenamed Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident (SG/RT), at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Yavoriv, Ukraine.

The 12-day long exercises involved participation from approximately 1,800 soldiers from 18 countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, the UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and the US.

Led by the US Army Europe, Rapid Trident is an annual field training exercise focused on defensive operations to ensure a safe and secure environment within the operating environment.

The drill merged with Saber Guardian, a command post exercise under the US European Command's Joint Exercise Program, aimed at enhancing joint combined interoperability with allied and partner nations and rotates between Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine.

"Rapid Trident was a good way for us to compare ourselves and our tactics with soldiers from other countries, allows us to make sure we stay as current as possible."

Rapid Trident training co-director colonel Alfred Renzi said: "This year's training was more complex as we combined the command post (Saber Guardian) and field (RapidTrident) exercises into a single event."

The SG/RT participants conducted various kinds of training during the first nine days preparing for the culminating two-day-long field exercise.

Ukrainian Navy Marine 2nd Platoon, Airborne Assault Company squad leader corporal Serhiy Hominich said: "We practised non-lethal weapons training with the US Marines, including crowd-control, we also conducted convoy operations and react to ambush training before we started our final event.

"Most importantly, Rapid Trident was a good way for us to compare ourselves and our tactics with soldiers from other countries, allows us to make sure we stay as current as possible."

During the final field exercise, the participants evaluated all aspects of their preparation, from providing security and convoy operations to non-lethal weapons and react to ambush.

The SG/RT exercises were aimed at augmenting defence modernisation and continuing efforts to bring US / Nato standardisation to the Ukrainians.

Image: Military personnel from Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia and the US stand together during the closing ceremony for Rapid Trident in Yavoriv, Ukraine. Photo: courtesy of the US Army.