US approves treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers at military hospital in Germany – CNN

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers at a US military hospital in Germany.

According to CNN, the plan allows for the treatment of up to 18 wounded soldiers at a time a Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the massive hospital in Germany where the military has, for years, treated US service members who suffered injuries in combat. 

As noted, Austin offered verbal guidance on May 26 to begin offering treatment to wounded Ukraine soldiers, according to the memo. On June 29, Austin formalized the verbal guidance and in a memo entitled “Guidance for Medical Treatment of Wounded Ukrainian Service Members.” 

According to the US official, the purpose of the memo was to remove any red tape that would slow down the process of offering treatment if the need arose.

It is also noted that the plan would permit treatment if there was no facility available in Ukraine or in a closer country.

“If Landstuhl were to receive wounded Ukrainian troops, the service members would have to leave Ukraine by train or car, which has no troops in Ukraine, before the US could evacuate them by air to Ramstein Air Base,” the report reads.

Landstuhl is located approximately more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.