Operation Atlantic Resolve

US deployments to Europe in response to Russo-Ukrainian War From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Operation Atlantic Resolve refers to military activities in response to Russian operations in Ukraine, mainly the War in Donbas. It was funded under the European Deterrence Initiative until 2022, and partly by USAI since. In the wake of Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the US and the UK took several immediate steps to enhance the deterrence posture along the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including augmenting the air, ground and naval presence in the region, and enhancing previously scheduled exercises.[23]

Operational scope
Locations
Camp Kościuszko, (HQ)

PL 52.4083°N 16.9336°E / 52.4083; 16.9336
Tower Barracks (JMTG — U)[c]

DE 49.7167°N 11.9°E / 49.7167; 11.9
PL Jasionka Base[d]
Plannedon 12 month horizon[e]
Plannedby Joint Chiefs of Staff w/ DoD OUSD(P)[f]
Quick facts Operational scope, Locations ...
Current phase
  • Timeline
  • Outline
 Ukraine mission, since NOV 2021[a][2]
(in the US Ukraine Response)
Part of Russian invasion deterrence
US M1A1 Abrams tanks needed for training the Armed Forces of Ukraine await transport to training areas at Grafenwoehr, Germany. May 11, 2023.[b]
Operational scope
Locations
Camp Kościuszko, (HQ)

PL 52.4083°N 16.9336°E / 52.4083; 16.9336
Tower Barracks (JMTG — U)[c]

DE 49.7167°N 11.9°E / 49.7167; 11.9
PL Jasionka Base[d]
Plannedon 12 month horizon[e]
Planned by Joint Chiefs of Staff w/ DoD OUSD(P)[f]
Commanded by CDR USEUCOM (ADCOM
with LTG Curtis A. Buzzard)[6]
 CG USAREUR- AF (OPCOM)
Objective
DateAPR 2014 • NOV 2021 • present (CET UTC+01:00/CEST UTC+02:00)
Executed by(since NOV 2022) COM SAG–U / NSATU (dual hatted),[g] with UDCG deliverables[h]
OutcomeMission ongoing and evolving[i]
Prior to 2022:
One ABCT, one SBCT permanent
deployment to Germany, Italy[4]
Since 2022:
Operation Atlantic Resolve is located in Central Europe
HQ, Poznań
JMTG-U, Grafenwoehr
JMTG-U, Grafenwoehr
Central Europe | OAR main sites: DE, PL
Close
FoundedAPR 2022 (inaugurated)[p]
NOV 4, 2022 (established)[q]
Allegiance US Army
TypeTitle 10 combined joint service long-term operational assistant command
RoleProvisioning of military training, education and equipment to AFU
Quick facts Security Assistance Group Ukraine (in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative), Founded ...
Security Assistance Group Ukraine
(in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative)
abbr. SAG-U, USEUCOM, in OAR since 2022[11]
«Група безпекового сприяння Україні»,
Європейське командування ЗС США (Ukrain.)
Clay Kaserne (garrison patron Gen. Clay, Mil. Governor of U.S. Occupation Zone in Germany, 1947- 49). 2012
FoundedAPR 2022 (inaugurated)[p]
NOV 4, 2022 (established)[q]
Allegiance US Army
TypeTitle 10 combined joint service long-term operational assistant command
RoleProvisioning of military training, education and equipment to AFU
Size329 personnel as of April 2025 (2025-04)[r]
Part of USEUCOM (administratively, within Operation Atlantic Resolve)[14]
USAREUR-AF (operationally)[12]
Command
Centre		Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Hesse, Germany
Commanders
Commander
3-star rank		LTG Curtis A. Buzzard (JUL'24- pr., US Army, abbr. USA)[s]
DCOM
2-star rank		Major General Duane R. Miller United States Army[16]
Deputy
Commander		Major General Kevin V. Doyle  United States Air Force[t]
Command
Srg.Major		Srg.Maj. Mark Morgan (DEC'24-pr.,  United States Army)[u]
Notable
commanders
Close
Also known asOAR, Atlantic Resolve
Founding leaderDepartment of Defense
CDRUSEUCOM(ADCOM)
CGUSAREURAF(OPCOM)GEN Alexus Grynkewich
GEN Chris Donahue
Historical eraRusso-Ukrainian War
Quick facts Also known as, Founding leader ...
Operation Atlantic Resolve
Also known asOAR, Atlantic Resolve
Founding leaderDepartment of Defense
CDR USEUCOM (ADCOM)
CG USAREURAF (OPCOM)		GEN Alexus Grynkewich
GEN Chris Donahue
Historical eraRusso-Ukrainian War
Mission statementClassified
Rotation type
services
  • Armored
  • Aviation
  • Sustainment task force
  • Division HQ[18]
FoundationAPR 2014 • AUG 23, 2023 (as overseas contingency operation)
Dates of operationApril 30, 2014 (2014-04-30)–pres.
Countryforward HQ  Poland
GroupsSAG-Ukraine[g]
JMTG-Ukraine[c]
MotivesDeterring Russian aggression
HeadquartersCamp Kościuszko, PL[x] 52.4083°N 16.9336°E / 52.4083; 16.9336
Active regionsUSEUCOM AOR
Major actionsEurope forward basing
StatusActive, contingency
Size~ 80,000 personnel[9]
Part ofEuropean Deterrence Initiative (c. 2022 USAI)
Allies
Elements of:
Opponents(to be deterred):
Flag United States Armed Forces
WebsiteUSAREUR-AF
NSATU
• SAG-U •
EUMAM UA
SAG-U–NSATU joint coordination[z]
EUMAM UA-NSATU data sharing,
Ukrainian LNO staff rotation[22]
Success
assessment
criteria[3]: 43 
Qualitatively: end state progress
Quantitatively: number of US troops
in Europe; public support for NATO
and US Europe's forces
Footnotes
    1. [a]
      Evolved with policy objectives. Mission statement is updated in classified Executive orders.[1]: 5 Infobox 
    2. [b]
      The M1A1 training is expected to last several weeks and will include live fire, crew qualification, maneuver, and maintainer training. Armed Forces of Ukraine training is conducted by 7th Army Training Command at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas in Germany on behalf of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
    3. [c]
      Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.[19] Previously the Combat Training Center-Yavoriv ( International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Ukraine), active since 2015, it was relocated from Yavoriv, and other training sites in Ukraine in February 2022.[20]
    4. [d]
      Includes Remote Maintenance and Distribution Cell–Ukraine (RDC-U), responsible for the maintenance and repair of equipment once donated to the AFU, smaller locations, such as logistical Support Area Eagle, and the Aerial Port of Debarkation South (APOD South).[3]: 89 
    5. [e]
      As of October 2025, OAR is designated by SecDef as overseas contingency operation (OCO) following the activation of reserve forces in support of OAR. OCO is normally budgeted out of baseline DoD budget, and within yearly planning (done by the US, in collaboration with NATO allies/partners' military leaders).[1]: 6 Table 1  [4] As of March 2025, $33.512 billion were appropriated, $23.29 billion obligated, and $12.469 billion disbursed under USAI since FY2022. USAI is a program that authorizes the Secretary of Defense, with concurrence from the Secretary of State, to provide appropriate security assistance and intelligence support to Ukraine. Such assistance can include training, defense articles, logistics support, supplies, and services to military and other Ukrainian security forces.[5]: 27 Table 5 
    6. [f]
      Office of Undersecretary of Defence (Policy)[5]: 58 
    7. [g]
      As of October 2025; since December 2024.[15] See SAG Ukraine infobox
    8. [h]
      Before 2025, with deliverables of IDCC, International Donors Coordination Centre, whose responsibilities were taken over by NSATU.[7]
    9. [i]
      USEUCOM said that it assesses the status of OAR through regular meetings with NATO allies and partners to discuss progress and challenges; measures of performance and effectiveness to track progress toward desired end states; the conduct and evaluation of combined exercises and training events; the development and implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing NATO’s capabilities; and by reviewing quantitative changes to the number of U.S. troops in Europe and public support for NATO and U.S. forces in Europe.[3]: 43 
    10. [j]
      As of August 2025 average cargo tonnage through Poland LEN hub only[8]
    11. [k]
      As of April 2025, by SAG-U Operations Kyiv, at least, to the front-line locations, non-locally authorized.[5]: 58 
    12. [l]
      As of October 2024 average US- only SAG- U personnel stationed under authority of the Chief of US Mission in Kyiv, Ukraine.[1]: 37 
    13. [m]
      As of December 2024, non- NATO units, including rotational deployment of up to 2 BCTs in Central and Eastern Europe with 9,000+ steady troops in Poland.[9]
    14. [n]
      As of July 2025 by international community since February 2022.[3]: 44 T.10  As reported in October 2024, US accounted for ~ 17% of that training.[1]: 46 Infobox 
    15. [o]
      Starting NOV 2021, the newly reactivated V Corps has assumed command and control of all OAR rotational forces.[10]
    16. [p]
      As Task Force Dragon, at the Base's Tony Bass Auditorium, funded by European Deterrence Initiative.[12]
    17. [q]
      As long-term assistance command.[13]
    18. [r]
      Including two of its planning directorate placed in NSATU command to coordinate AFU's training requirements.[5]: 45  SAG- U's multinational personnel is collocated with NSATU HQ[8] (prior to 2025, with informal International Donor Coordination Centre, IDCC, of more then 50 countries, under UK Brigadier command; IDCC handed over its responsibilities to NSATU).[3]: 44  SAG- U US- only personnel includes up to 60 experts at SAG-U Operations Kyiv (SOK) under authority of the Chief of US Mission in Kyiv.[1]: 37 Table 14 
    19. [s]
      As nominated for OAR. Since December 2024, concurrently COM NSATU.[15]
    20. [t]
      From June 2024.[17]
    21. [u]
      Concurrently NSATU Enlisted Advisor[15]
    22. [v]
      In emergency staffing (then COM XVIII Airborne Corps), as Task Force Dragon Commander, till December 2022. In December 2024 promoted to CG USAREUR-AF overseeing, among others, SAG- U.[12]
    23. [w]
      USA, from December 2022 till July 2024.[12]
    24. [x]
      Forward HQ coordinates the rotational armored, aviation, and sustainment task forces that train and operate across NATO’s eastern flank, linking together activities in countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary.
    25. [y]
      In 2022, Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to launch the invasion and to launch missiles into Ukraine. See: Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
    26. [z]
      Current NSATU–SAG-U joint efforts that were confirmed at the 21 July 2025 UDCG extended meeting:
      • US–NATO co‑funding mechanism (new channel announced by US president Donald Trump and Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte for European and Canadian allies to pool funds to purchase US‑made weapons and technology for Ukraine providing faster access to high‑demand systems);
      • Air defense boost (packages of Patriot missile systems and other advanced air‑defense assets pledged by allies to counter Russia’s intensified missile and drone strikes);
      • Industrial and financial backing (long‑term funding streams to expand defense production capacity in Europe and North America to replenish stocks while sustaining Ukraine’s needs over multiple years).[21]
Picture gallery: SAG-U
Close
Historical units posture during OAR (as of July '17)
Soldiers from Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Sweden and the United States at Estonia's annual Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge. 19 August 2014

The US described the activities as taking measures to enhance NATO military plans and defense capabilities and maintaining a persistent presence in Central Europe and Eastern Europe.[23] Atlantic Resolve rotations are overseen by a regionally aligned headquarters there.[24][25] As reported by USEUCOM in the first quarter of 2025, there were no mission objectives and endstate alterations to the Operation after U.S. administration change.[5]: 5 Infobox 

Aims and funding

Operation Atlantic Resolve is a multifaceted military operation by the USEUCOM and allies to enhance security and reassure NATO and Eastern European partners. Though OAR mission statement is classified, its aims include:[5]: 5 Infobox 

  • Enhancing deterrence posture along NATO's eastern flank.
  • Multinational training events in various countries to build readiness, increase interoperability, and enhance bonds between ally and partner militaries
  • Three rotations services: armored, aerial, and sustainment task force rotations
  • Land persistent presence: U.S. Army Europe and Africa leads the Atlantic Resolve efforts to bring units based in the U.S. to Europe for nine months at a time
  • Three domains exercises: military exercises and training on land, in the air, and at sea, while sustaining and augmenting rotational presence across Europe
  • Building partner capacity in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine so they can better work alongside the United States and NATO, as well as provide for their own defense.

The "heel-to-toe" rotations of forces in Europe are part of OAR. The European Deterrence Initiative, with USAI specifically, is the mechanism through which activities under OAR are organized and funded.[4]

Airborne operations

On April 30, 2014 United States Army and United States Air Force (USAF) military members were sent to Poland and the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to conduct military exercises with partner nations in an immediate response to Russian illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula on March 18, 2014. This was on done on a bilateral basis, not as part of a larger NATO action.[26][27]

The force consisted of four companies of approximately 150 soldiers from the 173rd BCT (Brigade Combat Team, airborne) out of Vicenza, Italy and supporting Air Force JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) from the 2nd ASOS (Air Support Operations Squadron) out of Vilseck, Germany. Troops were transported with assistance from the USAF 37th Airlift Squadron based out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The four companies were rotated out every ninety days through to the end of 2014 when a more formal version of Operation Atlantic Resolve was put into place.[26][27]

Road march

Main article: Operation Dragoon Ride
U.S. 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment soldiers in Germany during the first "Dragoon Ride", April 2015

In March 2015, a U.S. Army spokesman in Wiesbaden announced that a convoy of armored fighting vehicles, including Strykers, would return via road to their garrison at Vilseck after manoeuvres in Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.[28] The road march started a week later.[29]

Assets

Aerial

The aerial assets are mostly deployed to Ämari Air Base, Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Papa Air Base, and Illesheim Army Airfield.

Air Force

The first aerial units were the 159th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (159th EFS) with McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle's and the 123d EFS with F-15C's and a single F-15D from April 2015, who stayed for six months.[30]

This was added to by the following units:

Army

Ground

U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment Strykers during the 2015 "Dragoon Ride".

In January 2017, there were 3,500 troops from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, 87 tanks and 144 Bradley fighting vehicles there. They initially gathered in Poland, before spreading out across seven countries from Estonia to Bulgaria. The brigade is headquartered in Germany.[46] An armored brigade will constantly rotate deployment every nine months. The equipment will be permanently based in Żagań in western Poland alongside a Polish armored division[47] seemingly 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, 11th Armoured Cavalry Division. This unit has been replaced by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in September 2017.[48]

As of May 2018, the rotational force was changed to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.[49] The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division completed their rotation during October 2019 and were replaced by the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.[50] 2BCT, 1CAV was replaced in approximately November or December 2020 by 1ABCT, 1CAV. In June, 2021 it was announced that 1ABCT, 1ID would replace 1ABCT, 1CAV in August 2021.

U.S. soldier guides Lithuanian Land Forces soldiers during joint military exercises in Rukla, Lithuania, October 2014

On 4 September 2020, the US Army deployed the 2nd Battalion of the 69th Armor Regiment, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Division, for training in Pabradė. They deployed with M1 Abrams, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, other vehicles, and material.[51]

On 8 March 2022, V Corps' main headquarters forward deployed to Germany to provide additional command and control of U.S. Army forces in Europe as part of a larger personnel build up in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Reactions

82% of Czechs approved and supported the United States Army-NATO convoy that partook in Operation Dragoon Ride, in an opinion poll that was conducted by the independent STEM agency in 2015.[52]

A NATO deployment in the early January 2017 was welcomed by Polish officials, who described it as a necessary response to Russian military exercises near its border and its military intervention in Ukraine and members of the public as the materiel crossed into south-western Poland from Germany.[53][54][55][56] The same deployment sparked protests in Germany and prompted a critical reaction among the country's centre-left political parties, but was defended by the country's ruling CDU/CSU coalition and German military officials.[57][58]

An article about the deployment that was published by the Donbas News International (DNI) agency and its subsequent circulation in the Western conspiracy-theory cybersphere and Russian mediasphere was cited as an example of the creation and spread of fake news.[59] An editorial by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cautioned anyone against using the deployment as a domestic political tool.[60]

See also

References

External links

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