Pentagon May Train Former Afghan Pilots to Operate Ukrainian Military Aircraft: Russian Media

Ukraine has no pilots and technicians to operate its air force, TASS reported quotting a 'military-diplomatic source' who also claimed that the Pentagon was training former Afghan aircrew for deployment in Ukraine.
"The staff of Ukraine’s Air Force have been practically eliminated by Russia’s Aerospace Forces and air defense systems," the military-diplomatic source was quoted as telling the Russian News Agency, TASS on Monday.
"The entire qualified operating personnel of Ukraine’s former air force - of Mig-29, Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft - have been practically eliminated by the effective actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the air defense systems," the source said.
According to the source, Ukraine was forced to involve poorly trained air cadets for combat sorties which led to "catastrophic losses among Ukrainian aviation."
The source said that pilots recruited from Poland and other Eastern European countries" are already in grave or in hospitals."

Former Afghan Pilots, Soldiers Training for Deployment to Ukraine
The source claimed that the Pentagon was training former Afghan pilots in California to send them to Ukraine via Poland.
"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," the source said.
According to the source, this involves not only the former pilots but also other Afghans who served in special units. "They are also offered to undergo training and sign a contract which involves the subsequent deployment to the combat zone in Ukraine," the source said.

The U.S. has despatched Mi-17 helicopters, formerly used in Afghanstan to Ukraine.