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Ukraine Withdraws Troops From Sierra Leone

Concord Times (Freetown)
NEWS
January 18, 2005
Posted to the web January 18, 2005
Freetown
Ukraine last Wednesday commenced withdrawal of troops it sent to participate in
the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
Andriy Lysenko, a Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman recently told
journalists that Ukraine has already pulled out a utility helicopter squadron
and the remaining 500 soldiers will leave Sierra Leone by the end of March.
"The pullout was ordered following the expiration of the contingent's mandate
and following a political decision stemming from conditions that are far from
those in which Slavic people can do their job perfectly,"' Lysenko said, adding
that some of the soldiers sent to Sierra Leone by outgoing Ukrainian President,
Leonid Kuchma in December 2000 died in accidents.
He says Ukraine enjoys a reputation for eagerly participating in dangerous
peacekeeping missions in part because the troops receive far higher salaries
than they can earn at home in the cash-strapped military.

   

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