Ukraine will repatriate troops and equipment, including helicopters, involved in U.N. peacekeeping missions in Africa and Europe to bolster defences at home in the face of Russia’s invasion, a U.N. official said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree on Tuesday recalling all peacekeeping forces in order to assist in the war effort at home, Ukrainian media reported.
Ukraine contributes about 300 troops, police officers and staff to six U.N. missions, a number unlikely to drastically alter peacekeeping operations globally.
Its biggest contribution by far, to the mission in Democratic Republic of Congo known as MONUSCO, comprises eight Ukrainian helicopters and a 250-member aviation unit, a MONUSCO spokesman said.
“We have received notification from Ukraine regarding the repatriation of their equipment and contributions to peacekeeping,” the spokesman told Reuters, adding that the pullout included all U.N. missions with Ukrainian involvement.
“At the moment we are evaluating what impact this retreat could have on our mission and how we can minimise it.”