BORISPIL, Ukraine, 8 August 2003 — After receiving a blessing from an Orthodox priest, a first detachment of Ukrainian troops headed for Iraq yesterday to take part in a US-led force attempting to restore order after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Seventy soldiers left aboard an Ilyushin Il-76 for Kuwait from Borispil airport near Kiev, Defense Minister Evhen Marchuk said after the departure ceremony.
The troops’ families saw them off, as did several leading officials and around 800 of their military colleagues who are due to leave later in the week.
A total of 345 Ukrainian troops were due to arrive in a Kuwait training camp yesterday.
From there, the Ukrainian troops are expected to arrive in the Iraqi town of Al-Kut, where they will be based, on Monday or Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said.
Marchuk told the troops they would have to be “vigilant and very professional to ensure (their) security and that of the local population.”
He noted that Ukraine was “a big European country which cannot stand aside from world events,” and predicted that the participation of Ukrainian troops in the Iraqi operation under Polish command would “strengthen cooperation with this strategic partner.” He also noted that a number of generals had been punished because of the “poor preparation” of some troops for their mission to Iraq.
The Defense Ministry earlier announced that President Leonid Kuchma had dismissed generals Viktor Kolotov, responsible for supplies and support, and Olexander Stetsenko, head of munitions.
The two officers had been due to form part of the initial detachment flying to Iraq.
Overall, Ukraine is due to send 1,644 troops to Iraq for a mission under Polish command. Optional reinforcements could bring the number up to 1,800 by the end of the year. The international division totaling 9,200 men is due to become operational in a region between Baghdad and the southern port of Basra on Sept. 1.
The Ukrainian troops are expected to patrol two of the main motorways between the Iraqi capital and the south of the country, to deliver humanitarian aid and to guard Iraqi Army munition depots, the Defense Ministry said.
Marchuk was appointed defense minister in June, with orders to accelerate reform in the delapidated, under-funded armed forces and to bring them in line with NATO norms.
