KIEV, March 3, 2004. (RIA Novosti correspondent) - On Wednesday Ukraine completed rotation of its peacekeeping troops in Iraq, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry has reported.
The last 20 servicemen of the 6th independent mechanized brigade numbering 1,634 men were brought to Iraq by a Tu-154 plane early on Wednesday, the ministry explained.
The Ukrainian peacekeepers started their mission in the Iraqi province of Wasit in September 2003.
They patrol a 120-km sector of the Iranian-Iraqi border in the Polish zone of responsibility, protect the airport, the state bank's building in the city of Al Kut, as well as escort humanitarian cargoes and prevent lootings and robberies.
To join the peacekeeping operation in Iraq Ukraine was invited by Poland.
