Ukraine's participation in stabilization processes in Iraq.
On 22 May 2003, UN Security Council approved its Resolution 1483 (2003) regarding Iraq. The Resolution created international legal preconditions for decision-making regarding sending a contingent of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to Iraq in accordance with the Ukrainian laws in force, in particular the Law of Ukraine on Participation of Ukraine in International Peacekeeping Operations.
On 5 June 2003, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, by approving relevant law, endorsed the decision of the President of Ukraine to send a peacekeeping contingent to Iraq within the international stabilization forces in Iraq.
The peacekeeping contingent is subordinated to the General Headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and forms a part of the international multinational stabilization forces under operative command of the Joint Command, acting in accordance with the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003).
The Ukrainian contingent performs, inter alia, the following tasks:
- Maintenance of law and order in the area of responsibility;
- Escort of convoys;
- Service at posts and patrolling;
- Guarding local self-governments, religious and historical monuments, and other important sites;
- Control over surrender of weapons by civil population and former militants;
- Assistance in evacuation of civilians in case of danger to life;
- Engineering and other works necessary to overcome the consequences of the conflict;
- Detection and identification of dangerous chemical, biological and radioactive substances;
- Elimination of effects of chemical, biological and radioactive contamination;
- Transportation of humanitarian cargo.
The total strength of the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent within the 5th mechanized (which includes 51st and 52nd detached mechanized battalions and 19th detached special battalion) is 1640 servicemen who act within the Central South multinational division of Polish sector of responsibility and serve in the Wasit province at the Iranian border.
In early September 2003, Eugeniy Marchuk, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, visited Kuwait and Iraq. During his visit to Iraq, the Ukrainian defense minister officially assumed the area of responsibility of the Ukrainian contingent within the Stabilization Forces in Iraq (Wasit province).
In February 2004, scheduled rotation of personnel of the Ukrainian contingent in Iraq took place.
Today there are 1634 Ukrainian peacekeepers in Iraq.
On 19 May 2004, Eugeniy Marchuk, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, informed of the intentions of the Defense Ministry to send a special-purpose mortar unit to Iraq, which would suppress weapon emplacements of Iraqi assailants who attack the Ukrainian peacekeepers.
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