Ukraine will continue implementing a decision by the UN Security Council on the mandate for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov was speaking at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, involving defense ministers from non-NATO ISAF contributing countries in Afghanistan, in Budapest on Thursday.
Speaking about Ukraine's participation in NATO operations, the minister said that in the autumn of 2008, seven Ukrainian peacekeepers would be sent to the Lithuanian contingent in Afghanistan.
Over 47,000 soldiers currently serve in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The largest number of peacekeepers is from the United States (18,000). Among central and eastern European countries, the greatest number of soldiers arrived in Afghanistan from Poland (over 1,100 people). Ukraine, being a contributing country in the operation, is represented by three military doctors in the Lithuanian contingent. The number of Ukrainian military missioners in Afghanistan is to be increased to ten in November.
