US Pentagon is recruiting Afghans and ex-special forces for combat training in California to be deployed to Ukraine

New Delhi: The US Department of Defense has begun training former Afghan fighter jet pilots who fled to the United States for transfer to Ukraine, via Poland, Russian news agency TASS has learned.

"The Pentagon has been recruiting for Ukraine Afghan ex-pilot fighter trainers who fled to the United States a year ago with the Americans," Al Mayadeen English quoting an unnamed military source said. In this regard, he has explained that "their training starts now in California, after which it is planned to transfer them all through Poland to Ukraine."

However, the source consulted by TASS has detailed that this training includes any Afghans who served in the special forces. "They are also invited to receive training and conclude a contract providing for further deployment in the war zone in Ukraine," he has specified.

A military-diplomatic source told TASS on Monday that the Pentagon will start training former Afghan pilots in California to deploy them to Ukraine via Poland, adding: "As we know, the Pentagon began recruiting former Afghan pilots who ran to the US together with the Americans a year ago. Their training now kicks off in California with plans to dispatch all of them to Ukraine via Poland afterwards".

According to the source, this entails not only the former pilots but other Afghans who served in special units. The source commented: "They are also offered to undergo training and sign a contract which involves the subsequent deployment to the combat zone in Ukraine".

In June, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland will sign the largest contract in 30 years to supply almost $630 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, and the US, in a series of non-stop aid packages, has announced its latest aid for $182 million for three NASAMS missile systems.

The US and several other countries have already been supplying weapons and arms to the frontlines in Ukraine. Russian officials have alleged that several foreign fighters and mercenaries were deployed in the Ukraine war from various European countries.

A Russian-backed separatist court in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk charged five foreign nationals captured fighting with Ukrainian forces with being mercenaries on Monday, saying three could face the death penalty, Russian media reported. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, had earlier warned mercenaries who have been fighting in support of Ukraine, will not be able to enjoy the rights of 'prisoners of war'. According to news agency TASS, Konashenkov accused the West has been constantly sending its forces to support Ukrainian forces.

Biden administration sent Us $ 9.1 billion in weapons since the Russian invasion including ex-Afghan helicopters to Ukraine.