WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Washington is not providing any training to Ukraine’s far-right Right Sector group, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby told journalists on Wednesday amid the investigation into recent shootout between police, locals and Right Sector in Mukachevo.
“US is not training any members of the Right Sector. We continue to look forward to working with Ukraine to identify the best candidates for the US provided training,” Kirby stated.
On Saturday, a shootout between police officers, local businessmen and Right Sector militants in the western Ukrainian town of Mukachevo left three people dead and 13 injured. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General qualified the incident as a terrorist attack.
The Right Sector’s press service said its members were trying to dismantle smuggling routes, allegedly controlled by local officials, when they claim police opened fire on them without warning.
The Right Sector played a major role in the violent clashes with police that led to the February 2014 government overthrow.
In January 2015, the Russian Ministry of Justice banned the Right Sector paramilitary group in the country.
Washington has been providing Ukraine with non-lethal military assistance over recent months, including helping Ukraine build its National Guard and other forces.
In April 2015, the United States sent 300 troops to western Ukraine to train the country’s National Guard. Additional training is being provided by the UK and Canadian military.
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