Ukraine plans to pull troops from peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo
The United Nations has received official notification from Ukraine that it intends to withdraw about 250 troops serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo as well as military equipment, including some aircraft.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed the withdrawal on Wednesday stressing that every country has a right to withdraw military forces contributed to peacekeeping operations.
He acknowledged "the tremendous role Ukraine has played, especially on issues of transport and helicopters."
Ms Dujarric said it is up to the Ukrainian government to explain why it asked to pull out the troops and the UN will be contacting other countries to replace the troops and equipment in the Congo mission known as MONUSCO, which has about 17,800 personnel.
The UN spokesman said Ukrainians remain present in smaller numbers in other UN peacekeeping missions — 13 in South Sudan, 12 in Mali, five in Cyprus, four in Abyei and three in the UN political mission in Kosovo.
