KYIV. April 10 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian and Polish peacekeeping units will practice interaction in the framework of the Commonwealth 2003 command post exercise (CPX) at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Yavorovo proving range located in the Lviv region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces press service reported on Thursday.
"The three-day joint Ukrainian-Polish Commonwealth 2003 exercise is underway at the training center of the Partnership for Peace program at the Yavorovo proving range. Its main goal to prepare the joint headquarters for the next personnel rotation in the Ukrainian-Polish Ukrpolbat peacekeeping battalion in Kosovo," the press service said.
According to him, the event involves 30 servicemen of the battalion's headquarters. For three days, they will work on coordination of actions between the two parts of the battalion. The exercise takes place at a special part of the proving range that simulates the battalion's area of responsibility in Kosovo.
Ukrpolbat, which accomplishes peacekeeping missions in Multinational Brigade East within KFOR, is to undergo rotation in early August. The number of Ukrainian servicemen who will replace their fellows in Kosovo is 317 people.
The active stage of the Ukrainian peacekeepers' training will start at the Yavorovo proving range on May 12 and will end with the Peace Shield 2003 multinational maneuvers. Moreover, several Ukrainian servicemen of the battalion will be involved in the Maple Arch 2003 tactical company-level exercise which is to take place in Lithuania on May 2-17.