Ukraine's peacekeepers prepare for duty in Iraq (07/20/03)

Ukraine's peacekeepers prepare for duty in Iraq

by Maryna Makhnonos
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

VELYKOPOLOVETSKYI RANGE, Ukraine - Dressed in light sand-colored fatigues with automatic rifles on their shoulders, and armed with a basic set of Arab words and optimistic about the local weather conditions, Ukrainian soliders will arrive in mid-August in the Iraqi city of Al-Kut, located southeast of Baghdad in the Wasit region, to take part in an international peacekeeping mission.

Meanwhile in Ukraine, the soldiers are training in green camouflage and enjoys the mild climate in the last few weeks before heading for service in Iraq, where temperatures jump from some 49 degrees C (120 F) in the morning down to 27 degrees C (80 F) at night.

On July 3, they underwent another lengthy training period at the 1,700-hectare military range situated close to the village of Malopolovetske, some 120 kilometers (74.4 miles) southwest of Kyiv.

During their training that day, which was observed by journalists, the troopers checked drivers and cars at a checkpoint, patrolled territory in groups of seven in armored personnel carriers, beat off an attack of terrorists, examined citizens dwellings, calmed a crowd of protesters and practiced medical assistance actions - all skills that might be of use during a year of service with the international stabilization force. Besides that, the Ukrainian battalion will guard important sites, such as weapons storage areas and a local airport.

"All these attacks are practiced as an extreme example for the people to know what could happen," said Capt. Andrii Lysenko, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry of Ukraine.

The Iraqi province of Wasit - which has a population of 800,000 - is considered to be quiet. Since the start of the military campaign in Iraq, there have been no incidents registered.

"According to our information, the situation there is stable and there are currently no cases of terrorism," Maj.-Gen. Serhii Bezluschenko noted.

His colleague, who was among six officers who stayed in the area for 10 days to gauge the situation on the ground, confirmed that the local people seem to be peaceful. Weather conditions, however, may be harsh for Europeans.

"Of course, climatic conditions differ, but it's possible to get accustomed to everything," said Lt. Col. Oleksander Krasniuk.

Up to 1,800 Ukrainian soldiers and officers between the age of 25 and 40 are expected to deport in three stages from Zhytomyr, Kyiv and Mykolaiv to Kuwait City and then travel another 600 kilometers (372 miles) to Al-Kut on August 7-9, said Maj.-Gen. Bezluschenko, who also will serve in Iraq. All his subordinates, he said, are professional military men, who work under contract and have experience in similar missions.

The Ukrainian troops are meant to replace some of the U.S. peacekeepers. Upon arrival, the soldiers will live for the next two months, until U.S. soldiers leave the barracks, in tents that house 18 persons each and are equipped with air conditioners. The Ukrainian battalion will operate 60 armored carriers, 11 reconnaissance vehicles, six chemical reconnaissance vehicles and another 217 vehicles. The U.S. contingent will supply provisions.

The Ukrainian portion of the peacekeeping force includes miners, specialists in intelligence, and nuclear, chemical and bacteriological experts, as well as translators and military police. The police unit is necessary to maintain order in populated areas and to solve potential crime cases. Their duties also include investigation of violations of order and crimes.

Maj.-Gen. Bezluschenko said international law regulating peacekeepers' actions limits clearly the conditions under which a trooper is allowed to use arms. Those include only cases of citizens' and personal life protection, and cases of attack on storage areas or equipment, he said.

"Our task is to prevent any (negative) case and maintain the situation as it is," Maj.-Gen. Bezluschenko said.

Ukrainian troops will be active in the region in accordance with United Nations Resolution No. 1483 together with Polish soldiers under their command. A Ukrainian general will be deputy commander of this Polish-Ukrainian international force.

Wages for their service will range from $600 to $1,200 per month, depending upon military rank - sums that are significantly higher than Ukraine's domestic monthly compensation that varies from $70 for an ordinary soldier to $180-$190 for an officer. Life/disability insurance for each soldier is set at $65,000 to a maximum of $107,000.

Capt. Valerii Velychko, who trained soldiers to counter an attack at a storage area, said he is interested in serving in Iraq "to see what I taught them and to check myself." The officer added that contingent members were selected from among numerous candidates from all over Ukraine based on a difficult test that examined health, sports and professional skills.

Asked about his personal attitude toward the upcoming trip, the tall, blue-eyed Capt. Velychko, 31, said he would miss his wife, who is pregnant and due to give birth soon. However, he added, there was no quarrel over his service.

"She took it as the wife of an officer ... with mutual love and acceptance," Capt. Velychko said with a smile.

Half a kilometer away, another group of soldiers and officers practiced patrolling and counter attack actions. They circled in three armored carriers and "shot" at the "enemy" - played by comrades in civilian garb.

"The third department, you lack confidence, we have to train more," an officer appealed to his soldiers after the training set. "But, in general, everything was done well."

Commanders expect that all peacekeepers will be totally prepared by the end of July for any difficulties they may encounter in Iraq. The soldiers are also studying local traditions and culture to be aware of the world they go to guard.

"The main goal is for everybody to come back alive and healthy," Maj.-Gen. Bezluschenko said.

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