Gen. Sergiy Kirichenko, who is also the chief of the General Staff, told a news conference in the Ukrainian capital that the country's peacekeeping contingent would provide security in Iraq's Vasit province during parliamentary elections.
"Our tactical group is permanently stationed in the Vasit province and is preparing to maintain security during the December 15 elections," Kirichenko said.
Kirichenko continued that the peacekeepers would return home by January 1.
"Our peacekeepers will return to Ukraine before New Year's," he said. "The equipment that will be transported by ferries will arrive afterwards but will already have been removed from Iraq by January 1."
The general also said coalition force helicopters and other aircraft would be ready to provide security for the contingent during the pullout effort.
Ukraine sent 1,650 soldiers to Iraq in August 2003 to support U.S.-led coalition forces.
The withdrawal began on November 30.
