You're reading: Defense Ministry sends aircraft to deploy Ukrainian helicopter detachment in Congo

Super-heavy transport aircraft An-124 Ruslan with 90 tonnes of ammunition and equipment departed from a runway of the Antonov state-run enterprise in Hostomel near Kyiv toCongolate on Feb. 10.


This equipment is necessary to deploy and maintain a camp of the 18th detached helicopter troop of Ukrainian Armed Forces, which is to perform the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

The Ukrainian troop will be re-deployed in several stages,the Defense Ministry press service said.

"This is connected with the fact that the landing field closest to our future base is not capable to service the aircraft of the Ruslan type,” said lieutenant colonel Serhiy Shapovalov, the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent head, who left on the Ruslan aircraft as a part of the advance party.

“First we’ll fly to Uganda, and then using the UN Stabilization Mission’s planes – Hercules and Il-76 military transport aircraft – will fly to the Congo," he added.

Shapovalov said that 157 military officers will represent the 18th detached Ukrainian helicopter troop in the Congo, which is equipped four Mi-24 military helicopters and 43 vehicles.

The mission of the Ukrainian peacekeepers in Congo is aimed at: airborne reconnaissance, observation, fire support operations of land forces, support of UN Mission troops, including rescue operations and escorting of humanitarian aid deliveries.

The Ukrainian helicopter troop will cooperate with an Indian infantry brigade providing for air support of land operations.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon passed a relevant letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during the recent session of the UN Assembly General in New York, asking to Ukraine to send its peacekeepers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On December 22, 2011, the Ukrainian parliament approved the decision of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to send a peacekeeping contingent to participate in the MONUSCO.

According to the presidential decree, 200 Ukrainian servicemen will be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The costs for Ukrainian peacekeepers’ participation in the MONUSCO will be covered from the Ukrainian national budget and later compensated by the United Nations.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel said that Ukrainian peacekeepers would stay in the Congo until June 30, 2012.