Military Intelligence Serving Peace
July 30, 2009
Since 1992, over 28 000 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have gained field experience in carrying out peacekeeping missions. However, the traditions of contemporary Ukrainian intelligence were set up by efforts of several generations of our country’s intelligence officers long before the Independent Ukraine emerged.
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS IN THE ARMED CONFLICTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
 China 1945-1953, 1969 |
 South Korea 1950-1953 |
 Hungary 1956 |
 Laos 1960-1970 |
 Vietnam 1961-1974 |
 Yemen 1962-1963, 1962-1969 |
 Cuba 1962-1963 |
 Egypt 1962-1963, 1967-1975 |
 Algeria 1962-1964 |
 Mozambique 1967-1969, 1975-1979 |
 Syria 1967,1970, 1972,1973 |
 Czechoslovakia 1968-1969 |
 Cambodia 1970 |
 Bangladesh 1972 |
 Angola 1975-1979 |
 Ethiopia 1977-1979 |
 Somalia 1978-1989 |
 Afghanistan 1979-1989 |
The Afghan War was the biggest and the most difficult challenge that the Soviet Army ever faced after WWII
Reconnaissance, search and detection of enemy forces as well as special intelligence missions in Afghanistan were performed by the units subordinated to the General Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff and commonly known as the Special Forces.
In early May, 1979, the formation of the Special Forces independent battalion began in Uzbekistan in order to secure the government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
The overall strength of the “Muslim” battalion, as it was unofficially dubbed, equaled 538 men and officers. Major L.T. Khalbaev was recalled from studies at “Vystrel” Superior Officer Course to take command of the battalion.
On November 10-12, 1979 the battalion was airlifted to Afghanistan.
On December 25, 1979, the Soviet forces were brought into the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in compliance with the Directive of the Minister of Defense of the USSR. They initially consisted of separate units previously stationed in the southern regions of the USSR that were later merged into the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army under the command of major-general B.I. Tkach.
The first unit to cross the Afghan border, leading the way for the Soviet troops, was the 781st independent reconnaissance battalion (IRB) of the 108th infantry division (ID).
By the summer of 1980, the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army included reconnaissance battalions of the 108th ID stationed in Kabul, the 201st ID and the 5th ID operating in the north and the west of the country respectively, the 781st IRB in Bahram, the 783rd IRB in Kunduz and the 650th guards IRB in Shindand.
Reconnaissance companies operated as units of the 101st, 122nd, 149th, 177th, 180th, 181st, 371st, 373rd, 395th and the 682nd infantry regiments. The 186th, 191st and the 860th independent infantry regiments also had regular reconnaissance companies. The units of the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army were deployed to 24 large and 101 small garrisons in Afghan provinces.
Collection of intelligence information was conducted by intelligence sections of division, brigade and regiment HQs along with two intelligence posts ant the 797th intelligence centre subordinated to the intelligence department of the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army. Wide inventory of the military intelligence ranged from aerial photography and space reconnaissance to routine surveillance and agent reports.
The official withdrawal of the Soviet Army’s regular units from Afghanistan ended on February 15, 1989.
620 000 Soviet troops took part in combat operations in Afghanistan.
Total casualties in Afghanistan equalled 14 453 people.
The Afghan war caused drastic consequences for Ukraine. More than 160 000 people were sent to Afghanistan from Ukraine. 3 360 of them never returned home, including 3 280 dead and 80 MIA or POW. Nowadays, nearly 150 000 Afghan war veterans live in Ukraine; over 8 000 of them were wounded, 3 560 became disabled.
 Hero of The Soviet Union Major-general, ret. PLOSKONOS Igor Mykolayovych |
Feb 1982 - Dec 1982 parachute reconnaissance company deputy leader, parachute training instructor of the 783rd independent reconnaissance battalion, 201st infantry division;
|
 Lieutenant-general, ret. TKACH Boris Ivanovych |
Sep 1980 - May 1982 First commander of the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army. Awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 1st grade. |
|
 Hero of The Soviet Union Colonel, ret. GRYNCHAK Valeriy Ivanonych |
Oct 1983 - Jul 1984 reconnaissance company leader of the 285th armored regiment;
executive officer of the 781st independent reconnaissance battalion. |
 Major-general, ret. KOKORIN Vadym Oleksandrovych |
Jun 1985 - Aug 1987 chief intelligence officer of the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army. Awarded 2 orders of the “Red Star”. |
|
 Hero of The Soviet Union Lieutenant-colonel GOROSHKO Yaroslav Pavlovych |
Sep 1981 - Oct 1983 platoon leader, mortar battery of the 70th separate infantry brigade; Feb 1987 - May 1988 Special Forces company leader, 186th independent Special Forces detachment, 22nd independent Special Forces brigade. |
 Colonel, ret. SAPOZHNIK Volodymyr Abramovych |
Jun 1984 - Jun 1985 chief intelligence officer of the 40th Independent Combined Arms Army. Awarded the order “For the Service in the Armed Forces”, 3rd grade. . |
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS IN THE PEACE-KEEPING ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE
Ukrainian participation in the peacekeeping operations began after the approval by Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Resolution 2538-ХІІ “On the participation of battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the UN peace-keeping forces in the conflict zones on the territory of former Yugoslavia”, dated July 3, 1992.
Since 1992, over 28 000 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have gained field experience in carrying out peacekeeping missions.
Political Agenda Behind the Coalition
Political Agenda Behind the Coalition
The primary objectives of the military operation in Iraq were declared as follows:
- To disarm Iraqi forces and to eliminate any weapons of mass destruction (WMD);
- To topple Saddam Hussein’s regime;
- To collect data on the global network of WMD proliferation;
- To collect data related to terrorist networks; to search and eliminate terrorist groups on Iraqi territory;
- To finish the process of unproductive sanctions towards Iraq and to start delivering humanitarian aid to refugees and victims;
- To assist the Iraqi people in creating conditions for transition to democracy and self-government;
- To provide guarantees that the oil fields and other natural resources belong to the Iraqi people.
Intelligence tasks of the Peacekeeping Forces
- To disarm Iraqi forces and to eliminate any weapons of mass destruction (WMD);
- To topple Saddam Hussein’s regime;
- To collect data on the global network of WMD proliferation;
- To collect data related to terrorist networks; to search and eliminate terrorist groups on Iraqi territory;
- To finish the process of unproductive sanctions towards Iraq and to start delivering humanitarian aid to refugees and victims;
- To assist the Iraqi people in creating conditions for transition to democracy and self-government;
- To provide guarantees that the oil fields and other natural resources belong to the Iraqi people.
Intelligence tasks of the Peacekeeping Forces
A military intelligence unit was activated within Iraq contingent.
One of the primary tasks assigned to the intelligence element of Ukrainian peace-keeping forces was to ensure timely threat detection and to provide relevant intelligence data to commanders of the 5th, 6th and 7th mechanized infantry brigades and the 81st tactical group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
From September, 2003 to December, 2005 only, due to the work of our intelligence officers, nearly 3 500 small arms, 3 anti-aircraft rocket launchers and a significant amount of ammunition were seized, approximately 5 000 suspects were captured.
Country of stay – Iraq
Country of stay – Iraq
 |
The territory of Iraq spans 438 317 square km. The country is divided into 18 muhafizes (governorates or provinces). The capital of the country is Baghdad; the population is 23.3 million people. Apart from Arabs (75%) and Kurds (over 20%) Iraq is populated by Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians, Persians and some other ethnic groups. Islam is the primary state religion in Iraq. The territory of Iraq is dominated by plains (Mesopotamian plain), mountain ridges of the Armenian and Iranian plateaus are located, respectively, in the north and the north-east of the country. Two major rivers (the Tigris and the Euphrates ) form a common bed of the Shatt-el-Arab river. Iraq possesses significant reserves of oil, natural gas, sulfur, and phosphates. Industry is dominated by the metallurgical and cement manufacturing sectors, oil production and refinery, power industry, and mechanic engineering. Agricultural and livestock production sectors are developed. |
On August 8, 2003, in pursuance of the Presidential Decree 459, dated June 02, 2003; Resolution 869 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, dated June 04, 2003 and the Law of Ukraine 897-IV, dated June 05, 2003, all the materiel and equipment of the 5th independent mechanized infantry brigade was delivered to Kuwait, including 2 161 small arms, 60 armoured personnel carriers BTR-80, 11 armoured reconnaissance and patrol vehicles BRDM-2, 6 chemical reconnaissance vehicles, 217 transportation vehicles of different types, other special-purpose equipment and containers with the assets of Ukrainian peacekeeping forces.
On August 10, 2003, the units of the 5th independent mechanized infantry brigade were completely redeployed to Kuwait.
On August 11, 2003, at 06:47 hours (Kyiv time), the first Ukrainian convoy crossed the border of Iraq from Kuwait and proceeded to the permanent base in the city of Al-Kut, Wasit province.
The convoy consisted of 83 armoured and motor vehicles and was headed by commander of the 19th independent special battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lt-col. Y. Onischuk.
On September 1, 2003, the personnel of the 5th independent mechanized infantry brigade took up their duties in the assigned area of responsibility.
Overall strength of Ukrainian peacekeeping forces in Iraq equaled 1 660 persons.
 Kosovo |
 Iraq |
 Kosovo |
 Lebanon |
 Sierra-Leone |
 Angola |
