Russia on alert as US trains Ukraine’s troops

Nato co-operation with Kiev set to expand despite Kremlin warnings

To the crunch of grenades and crackle of machine-gun fire, United States paratroopers are helping members of Ukraine’s national guard to better defend the country’s east from separatist militants armed by Russia and assisted by its troops.

The vast Yavoriv firing range between the city of Lviv and the Polish border hosts training that Ukraine says is vital to its security and sovereignty, but which Moscow warns will only deepen the country’s conflict and the rift between Russia and the West.