PARTICIPATION OF SERVICEMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE IN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING AND SECURITY OPERATIONS (1992-2018)

Abstract

The paper retrospectively covers the peacekeeping activities of the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the independence of Ukraine. The Ukrainian military's peacekeeping activities were authorized by the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "Pro uchast batalionu Zbroinykh Syl Ukrainy v Myrotvorchykh Sylakh Orhanizatsii Obiednanykh Natsii u zonakh konfliktiv na terytorii kolyshnoi Yuhoslavii" (1992). The author focused on the characteristics of peacekeeping activities of the Ukrainian military in the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eastern Slavonia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia), on the African continent (Angola, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire), countries of the Middle East (Lebanon, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Iraq) and others. It is noted that servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) during peacekeeping operations mostly patrol areas of responsibility, engaged in the transportation of United Nations personnel, escort humanitarian cargos, control the ceasefire, and withdrawal of troops. International peacekeeping operations vary in duration (from several months to several years), funding, and the number of personnel involved. Usually, the results of Ukrainian peacekeepers were highly praised by the leadership of international security organizations. Participation of Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) programs, Partnership for Peace, international peacekeeping activities under the auspices of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) brings our country closer to NATO membership, contributes to strengthening its international prestige. Keywords: armed forces, NATO, peacekeeping operations, UN, Ukrainian contingent.