Czech soldiers join EU Battlegroup standby forces again

More than 240 Czech troops have been part of the standby forces of the German-led EU Battlegroup (EUBG) since the beginning of June, ready to be deployed within 6,000 kilometres of Brussels if ordered by the EU, General Staff spokeswoman Magdalena Dvorakova told CTK on Thursday. The standby EU forces rotate every six months. The current group is also joined by the Netherlands, Austria, Croatia and Ireland. Dvorakova said the Czech Republic is mainly providing a mechanised platoon formed by the 42nd Tabor mechanised battalion, complemented by command and staff, a support unit, a logistics unit and paramedics. The total number of deployed soldiers is 242.