KYIV. Jan 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The leadership of the UN mission in Sierra Leone has decided charge the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent to accomplish logistics support missions for all peacekeeping contingents located in the country.
"The headquarters of the UN mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) hosted a conference that discussed the handing of logistics support duties over to Ukrainian peacekeepers due to the reduction and withdrawal of a Bangladesh rear unit which accomplished those tasks before," an official of the Ukrainian Armed Forces press service told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
Transport support issues and ways of delivery of fuel, lubricants and foodstuffs to peacekeeping units were coordinated. An accord was reached that Ukrainian specialists will provide other contingents with kerosene, fuel and lubricants while servicemen of the Pakistani contingent are to provide foodstuffs. Moreover, Ukrainian specialists are to support the work of the UNAMSIL gas station which is located in the locality of Hastings.
The Ukrainian contingent has started preparations for the accomplishment of new missions. The best drivers and rear unit specialists were selected. They are to go through additional training in driving refuellers and will study main components of new hardware. Military drivers from Bangladesh will inform Ukrainian servicemen about roads and peculiarities of terrain in remote areas of the country. Ukrainian specialists will also study rules of technical and reporting documents. Special attention will be paid to studying the English language, in particular, technical terms.
The Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent in Sierra Leone comprises the 4th repairing and restoration battalion with over 500 servicemen, 72 BTR-70 and 150 BTR-60 APCs and other vehicles, as well as 20th separate helicopter unit of the Ukrainian Air Force.