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Ukrainian Task Force Ends Service in Multinational Division Central South

AL KUT, Iraq - Dec. 19 was the last day of the Ukrainian 81st Task Force's duty within Multinational Division Central South's structure. During a farewell ceremony, Major General Piotr Czerwinski, MNDCS commanding officer, thanked Ukrainian Soldiers for their outstanding duty.

Czerwinski said a new era in Iraq was possible thanks in large part to the joint effort. He went on to say that the stabilization provided by MNDCS enabled Coalition Forces to help build Iraqi security forces.

The Ukrainian 81st Task Force (81st TF) operated in Wasit province. The main tasks of Ukrainian Soldiers included providing security in Wasit province, in cooperation with Iraqi Security Forces, supporting and training Iraqi Army Soldiers and Iraqi border police and also assisting local Iraqi authorities in the reconstruction process while providing security for the referendum and elections.

During the mission, 81st TF conducted more than 160 convoys and more than 1,000 patrols. The task force, together with IA Soldiers, conducted many operations in their area of responsibility.

These operations included: 5,500 vehicles and 3,748 persons being checked, a great quantity of illegal weapons and equipment being seized and people suspected of terrorism being detained. In terms of engineering works, Ukrainians, in cooperation with Kazakh specialists, destroyed numerous pieces of ammunition.

Ukrainian Soldiers from 81st TF completed 45 civil engineering construction projects providing help for 6,500 Iraqi people. 81st TF doctors helped more than 5,000 people. According to a Ukrainian government decision, 81st TF handed over for Iraqi Army the military equipment to improve their combat capabilities.

The Ukrainians will continue their service within MNDCS as the group of military advisors responsible for training and advising Iraqi security forces.

Source: CENTCOM