Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion
Polish-Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion | |
---|---|
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Zahorodniy[1] | |
Insignia | |
Ukrainian version of the sleeve patch |
Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion (POLUKRBAT) or Ukrainian-Polish Peace Force Battalion (UKRPOLBAT) is a Polish-Ukrainian peacekeeping battalion, formed in the late 1990s expressly "for participation in international peace-keeping and humanitarian operations under the auspices of international organizations".[3]
The battalion can be used in international missions approved by the
The unit is mutually financed by Ukraine and Poland while other countries provided assistance in non-military aspects, mainly in the advancement of knowledge of English among the troops since English is the operational language of the unit.[3]
Since 2000, the battalion of 545 Polish and 267 Ukrainian soldiers has been deployed as part of KFOR, an international peacekeeping force in Kosovo, claimed as a Serbian province and then under UN administration.[3]
In June 2006, the Ukrainian contingent was reduced to 179 soldiers.[4]
Creation
The
The unit was named after two historic military leaders of the respective nations:
However, strong resistance from the
After the Rada voted down the law several times, the Ministry devised a workaround to overcome the parliamentary opposition, and in early 2000 the military announced that in the upcoming rotation of the Ukrainian servicemen of the Kosovo mission scheduled for July 2000, the ministry would deploy the Ukrainian part of battalion, claiming that since the Ukrainian participation in the mission per se had already been approved by the parliament, choosing the unit to replace the troops during the rotation did not need additional parliamentary approval.[7] Fearing that such inevitable deployment would undermine its prestige, the parliament ratified the 1997 agreement on April 6, 2000.[8][9]
However, on the very next day, April 7, the deputies of the
Mission
The mission of the battalion as a part of Kosovo International peacekeeping force started in July, 2000. Before deployment, the Ukrainian troops undertook special training in the Yavoriv center, the only Ukrainian boot camp that provides training for mountain warfare. The final multinational military exercise in Yavoriv was attended by the Ukrainian and Polish ministers of defense.[11]
The unit's service received good reviews from the force's high command and a positive regard from the Kosovo locals, both Serbs and Albanians.[12]
The Major tasks of the Battalion are:[1][13]
- Participation in peace support activities in the area of responsibility.
- Execution of functions:
- patrolling;
- guard-duty on observational posts;
- convoy and escort of local inhabitants;
- protection of schools and churches
Structure
Polish Units
All turns of POLUKRBAT were based on 21st Tatra Highlanders (Mountain) Brigade.
Ukrainian Units
Ukrainian units are based in
Rotation | Unit | Size | Commander | Dates Deployed |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1st Separate Special Battalion | 321 [14] | Lieutenant colonel Volodymyr Shkurat | September 1, 1999[14] – |
2nd | 1st Separate Special Battalion | 327[15] | Lieutenant colonel Viktor Ganuschak | |
3rd | 1st Separate Special Battalion | 322[15] | Major Serhiy Karnaushenko[15] | August 8, 2002[15] – August 7, 2003[14] |
4th | 1st Separate Special Battalion | 321[14] | Colonel Valerij Suprigan | August 7, 2003[14] – |
5th | 1st Separate Special Battalion | 321[14] | Lieutenant colonel Serhiy Karnaushenko | |
6th | 1st Separate Special Battalion | 262 | Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Kopachunsky[16]
|
August 2005[16] – August 11, 2006[4] |
7th | 30th Mechanized Brigade[17] | 179 | Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Pavliuk[18]
|
August 11, 2006[4] – April 10, 2007[18] |
8th | 95th Airmobile Brigade
|
178[19] | Lieutenant Colonel Yevhen Chumachenko[20]
|
April 10, 2007[18] – October 9, 2007[20] |
9th | 30th Mechanized Brigade[19] | 179[19] | Lieutenant Colonel Oleksandr Nesterenko[4]
|
October 9, 2007[20] – April 12, 2008[21] |
10th | 72nd Mechanized Brigade[1][22] | 181[23] | April 12, 2008[21] – October 2008(expected) | |
11th | 25th Airborne Brigade[24] | 185 | October 2008(expected) – |
See also
- Lithuanian-Polish Peace Force Battalion(LITPOLBAT)
- Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Ukrainian Contingent in Kosovo pg. 8–9
- ^ Peacekeeper’s Profiles pg. 31
- ^ a b c d e f g Polish-Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine on pages of the Polish Ministry of Defense
- ^ a b c d e (in Ukrainian) Minister of Defence signed the plan for new rotation of Ukrainian servicemen
- ^ Laws of Ukraine. International agreement No. 1634-14: Угода між Україною та Республікою Польща у справі створення спільної військової частини для участі в міжнародних миротворчих і гуманітарних операціях під егідою міжнародних організацій. Adopted on 2000-04-06. (Ukrainian)
- Zerkalo Nedeli, October 19–25, 2006.
- ^ Zerkalo Nedeli, March 25–31, 2000
- ^ Відомості Верховної Ради (ВВР), 2000, N 25, ст. 202
- ^ Laws of Ukraine. Ukrainian law No. 1634-III: Про ратифікацію Угоди між Україною та Республікою Польща у справі створення спільної військової частини для участі в міжнароднихмиротворчих і гуманітарних операціях під егідою міжнародних організацій. Adopted on 2000-04-06. (Ukrainian)
- ^ April 7, 2000. Full record of the session Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
- Zerkalo Nedeli, July 22–28, 2000. In Russian Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, in Ukrainian Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
- Zerkalo Nedeli, August 23 – September 1, 2001. in Russian Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, in Ukrainian Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ukrainian Armed Forces 2007 White Book p.88 Archived 2008-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g (in Ukrainian) greet new rotation of peacekeepers
- ^ a b c d (in Ukrainian) New rotation of 1st Separate Special Battalion
- ^ a b (in Ukrainian) Report after 10 month of 6th rotation
- ^ (in Ukrainian) 1st Battalion of 30th Brigade prepares for rotation to Kosovo
- ^ a b c (in Ukrainian) Brigade General Douglas Erhard congratulated and thanked Ukrainian troops Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c (in Ukrainian) 8th rotation is completed Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c (in Ukrainian) 9th rotation
- ^ a b (in Ukrainian) End of 9th rotation
- ^ (in Ukrainian) Alexander Zahorodniy is assigned commander of Ukrainian unit in Kosovo by Defence Minister
- ^ a b (in Ukrainian) End of rotation
- ^ (in Ukrainian) Seminar on mission of the new 11th rotation
- Reuters, "Poland: Polish-Ukrainian Army Battalion to Form in 1996," 26 Nov 95, relaying Zycie Warszawy daily.
External links
- Roman Woronowycz, "Ukraine's troops play key role in peacekeeping operations". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30., The Ukrainian Weekly, January 1, 2001
- KFOR POLAND: Seeing Both Sides of the Balkans, Warsaw Voice, June 24, 2001