You're reading: Ukrainian peacekeepers strike Congo militants to defend UN base

Ukrainian peacekeepers operating Mil Mi-24 helicopters delivered an airstrike upon irregular armed formations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said on Nov. 12.

Earlier in the day, Congolese militants associated with the so-called Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group allegedly tied to terrorist organizations like Islamic State and al-Shabaab, attacked a United Nations base located on the banks of the Semulike river in the province of North Kivu in the country’s east near the Ugandan border.

At the same time, Ukrainian strike helicopters working with the UN’s MONUSCO stabilization mission were escorting a South African transport helicopter through the area.

“In response to the militants’ brazen actions, the MONUSCO command made a decision to return fire,” Ukraine’s military said.

“Having received the corresponding order to ensure supporting fire and their targets’ coordinates, Ukrainian Mil Mi-24 pilots delivered an airstrike.”

As a result of the Ukrainian counterattack, the militant formations stopped firing and withdrew into the jungle.

No peacekeepers were injured in the incident, according to the Ukrainian military.

The Nov. 12 clash is a rare incident. Ukrainian UN peacekeepers seldom deliver airstrikes or are involved in serious action in the central African country, which has been ravaged by decades of war.

A Ukrainian Mil Mi-8 helicopter pictured at sunset in the Goma airfield on Nov. 4, 2019. (Vladyslav Demyanenko/The Armed Forces of Ukraine)

The previous major incident occurred between Aug. 1 and 2, 2018, when ADF militants attacked UN forces at an airfield close to the city of Beni in the same province.

Three non-Ukrainian peacekeepers were injured in an hour-long clash, after which the UN command decided to retaliate by ordering Ukrainian Mil Mi-24 to deliver an airstrike on an ADF base. Following the strike, Ukrainian Mil Mi-8 helicopters were also involved in transporting South African and Tanzanian troops to the location of the fight.

The area also saw the deadliest incident in UN peacekeeping operations since 1993, when ADF militants attacked a MONUSCO base on the banks of the Semulike river on Dec. 7, 2017.

The battle left 15 UN peacekeepers dead, one missing in action, and 53 injured. Five Congolese government soldiers were also killed.

Ukraine has deployed a 250-strong military contingent to the MONUSCO mission since 2012.

Ukraine is represented among UN peacekeepers in the Congo by the 18th Helicopter Detachment based in the cities of Goma and Beni close to the Congolese borders with Rwanda and Uganda, respectively.

Ukrainian personnel largely focus on medical evacuations and the transportation of UN peacekeepers in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu.