Posted in South Lebanon

On July 10, the Third Detached Engineers Battalion commanded by Colonel Znak left Kamyanets-Podilsky for Southern Lebanon. “The unit has undergone training in the appropriate department of our educational institution. While taking their exams, 232 peacekeepers displayed excellent knowledge of their tasks,” Colonel Sopilnyk, deputy head of the Military Engineers Institute, told The Day. This is the fourth rotation of Ukrainian peacekeepers on the sun-baked land of Southern Lebanon. Thousand of mines, shells, and other ammunition have been neutralized. “The same airplanes will bring back home the third-rotation servicemen who have done their duty,” Col. Sopilnyk continued. He noted that Col. Znak’s battalion would be followed, for the first time in world peacekeeping practice, by a special verification team composed of civilians who have a record of serving in hot spots. “They are combat engineers, drivers, translators, and doctors, including battlefield-therapy specialists.” They will perform the humanitarian task of minefield reconnaissance, public information, etc. The verification team has been manned by carefully selected reserve officers. “There were too many of those wishing to go from all over the country. Of course, we cleared the best.” Over the two years of its peacekeeping mission in Southern Lebanon, Ukraine has received worldwide recognition and 42 million US dollars.