The United States said Tuesday it has launched the biggest allied airborne drills in Europe since the Cold War ended, as fighting involving pro-Russian separatists escalated in eastern Ukraine. …

“Swift Response 15 is the largest Allied airborne training event on the continent since the end of the Cold War,” according to the statement from the US army in Grafenwohr in southern Germany….

The US army said the highlight of the drills will take place on 26 August when allied warplanes will drop more than 1,000 paratroopers and equipment the to Hohenfels training area in Germany.

A similar drill will also take place the same day at the Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, a former Soviet ally.

Participating in the exercises until 13 September are more than 4,800 soldiers from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Britain and the United States.

Image: US Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, Sept. 10, 2011 (photo: Airman James Richardson/Department of Defense)