(AP) – Ukrainian troops have completed their mission in Iraq and are ready to come home, the defense minister told journalists Nov. 10.
“The military mission is over and now is the time for diplomats, industry workers and businessmen to have their word,” Defense Minister Anatoliy Grytsenko said after returning from a two-day trip to Iraq.
Grytsenko said it was too early “to speak about complete stabilization” in Iraq, noting that “the development of democracy is a long process.”
“It will probably take 10 years or even more, but the tendency is positive,” he said.
Ukraine’s remaining 876 troops in Iraq are due home by Dec. 30.
“Our guys will celebrate the New Year in their homes with a glass of champagne,” Grytsenko said.
This ex-Soviet republic strongly opposed the U.S.-led war but later agreed to send 1,650 troops to serve under Polish command in central and southern Iraq.
The deployment was widely seen as an effort by former President Leonid Kuchma to repair relations with Washington, frayed by allegations that he approved the sale of radar systems to Saddam Hussein’s regime in violation of U.N. sanctions. The Ukrainian contingent became the fourth-largest in the U.S.-led military operation, but the move was deeply unpopular.
During Ukraine’s involvement in Iraq, Ukraine lost 18 soldiers and 32 others suffered injuries.
The government began withdrawing its troops in March, and President Viktor Yushchenko had promised they would be out by the year’s end. It was one of his campaign pledges, though initially he had set the withdrawal date at Oct. 15. The United States is picking up the $3 million (2.5 million euro) cost of the withdrawal.
Grytsenko said Ukrainian troops have been involved in 310 reconstruction projects, including work on drinking water supplies and constructing schools. Ukrainian soldiers have also destroyed 230,000 pieces of ordnance, and have helped train three Iraqi land battalions.
When Ukraine withdraws, they will leave behind some equipment and weapons, such as machine guns, cartridges, smoke grenades and other spare parts for the Iraqi military. Also some 50 Ukrainian military personnel will continue to work in Iraq on reconstruction projects, Grytsenko said.Ukrainian companies were also among those awarded contracts last year to supply Iraqi military and development companies with weapons, equipment and vehicles.
