A group of servicemen from the Armed Forces of Moldova arrived at the Yavoriv training ground in Lviv Кegion to take part in the international exercise Rapid Trident-2017, head of the media center of the Ministry of Defense in Lviv, Col. Oleksandr Poronyuk, told Interfax-Ukraine.
"Today, 57 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Moldova arrived at the training ground. They will take part in the Rapid Trident 2017," said Poronyuk, noting that the representatives of Moldova participated in all the preparatory conferences for these exercises.
He also said that on September 8 and 9, the remaining participants of the exercises arrived at the Yavoriv training ground. A total of 2,500 servicemen from over a dozen countries will participate in the Rapid Trident this year.
The grand opening will be held on September 11 at 9:00 am at the Yavoriv training ground.
The Moldovan government on Wednesday morning approved the participation of Moldovan servicemen in the exercise. On the same day, Moldovan President Igor Dodon suspended the decree of the government.
Despite the ban, on Thursday 57 servicemen went to Ukraine. Dodon in response demanded an immediate resignation of the acting Defense Minister Georgy Galbura, who was involved in the decision to participate in military exercises. Dodon ordered an immediate dismissal and demotion of those involved in this decision.
The Moldovan government, however, decided to seek the participation of the military in the exercises, stressing that the refusal to participate would have a negative impact on an already dilapidated army.