Are there currently any US military contractors actually in Ukraine alongside the Ukrainian soldiers, and if so, what areas may they be placed into?

There is a lot of “wild growth” in Ukraine.

Ukrainian military units operate with an exceptionally high degree of independence. If a unit decides they need the services of a private military company from the U.S. (and can find someone to fund it), you might end up with U.S. military contractors working "alongside Ukrainian soldiers."

I’m not aware of any specific cases where this has happened, but considering the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (approximately one million soldiers) and the sheer number of units, it’s reasonable to assume there are U.S. contractors here performing some kind of work with the military.

US Private Military Contractors somewhere in Iraq. Note the mustache, the serious look on the face, and the shades. (Picture: Cimsec)

At the same time, I’ve met and worked with private military experts from other countries who advised and worked with AFU personnel. So, if the Germans or Brits are doing it, it’s highly unlikely that no Americans are involved in similar roles.

Last but not least, you can see dozens of ridiculously-looking American paramilitary types walking around Kyiv. These guys stand out: typically in their late thirties or early forties, overweight and out of shape, bearded, and wearing overpriced tactical clothing in khaki and "coyote" colors, paired with Oakley or Ray-Ban sunglasses.

Most of them are probably working as security personnel for American businesspeople, but I can’t rule out that some might be involved with the AFU.