--- title: "These are the US troops rapidly deploying to Europe to counter Russia" description: "The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that 3,000 troops would be deployed or repositioned in Europe to help deter Russia." date: "2022-02-02" modified: "2022-02-02" authors: - name: "Haley Britzky" job_title: "Former Army Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/haley-britzky/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/units-deploying-to-europe-russia-ukraine/" categories: - "Around the World" - "News" - "Russia" - "Ukraine" --- # These are the US troops rapidly deploying to Europe to counter Russia ![us troops deploy europe in response to russia ukraine crisis]() *Paratroopers assigned to 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, approach a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 204th Airlift Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, June 13, 2019, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air National Guard/Senior Airman John Linzmeier) FILE PHOTO: Paratroopers assigned to 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, approach a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 204th Airlift Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, June 13, 2019, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air National Guard/Senior Airman John Linzmeier)* The Pentagon has announced 3,000 U.S. troops are being deployed or repositioned in Europe in an effort to reassure allies in the face of aggression from Russia. “I want to be very clear about something,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday during a Pentagon press conference. “These are not permanent moves. They are moves designed to respond to the current security environment. Moreover, these forces are not going to fight in Ukraine. They’re going to ensure the robust defense of our NATO allies.” A Stryker squadron currently in Germany will reposition to Romania, Kirby said, in addition to the roughly 900 forces already in Romania. From Fort Bragg, North Carolina, an infantry brigade combat team with the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy to Poland, and a joint task force headquarters with the 18th Airborne Corps will deploy to Germany. All of this is in addition to 100 Florida National Guardsmen [currently deployed]() to Ukraine. But Kirby specified that this week’s troop movements will be separate from the 8,500 troops he previously said were on heightened alert to possibly deploy. ![]() *U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment walk down a road during the 18.6-mile Norwegian Foot March with Chico at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, Jan. 12, 2022. (U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Patoka)* “Those 8,500 are not currently being deployed,” he said, “but remain ready to move if called for the NATO Response Force or as needed for other contingencies.” Tensions in Europe have been on the rise as Russia amassed tens of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine. While U.S. officials have said repeatedly there is still a path forward for diplomacy and conflict is not inevitable, Kirby said Wednesday that the deployments stand as “unmistakable signals to the world” that the U.S. is ready to stand with NATO allies “against any aggression.” Russia currently has more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s border, [according to Reuters](), and has said it “could take unspecified military measures if demands are not met.” On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that any conflict with Russia would involve more than just Ukraine. “This is not going to be a war of Ukraine and Russia,” [Zelensky said](). “This is going to be a European war, a fully fledged war." ## What’s hot on Task & Purpose - **Navy confirms** [**video and photo of F-35 that crashed**]() **in South China Sea are real** - [**Who are the ‘Island Boys’**]() **and why do US troops keep paying them for military shoutout videos?** - **The Army is on the verge of picking** [**a replacement for the M4 and M249**]() - **Viral letter begging the military to** [**‘fix our computers’ reaches Pentagon leaders**]() - [**The Army’s new infantry assault buggy**]() **is a useless garbage pile** **Want to write for Task & Purpose?** [**Click here**]()**. Or check out the latest stories on** [**our homepage.**]() ## Author Haley Britzky was the Task & Purpose Army reporter from 2019 to 2022. She previously worked at Axios covering breaking news. She reports on important developments within the service, from new uniforms to new policies; the realities of military life facing soldiers and their families; and broader cultural issues that expand outside of the Army, touching each of the military services. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]()