Russia's Participation in Peacekeeping Operations

Peacekeeping operations of the United Nations are carried out in order to prevent or eliminate threats to peace and security through joint enforcement actions when economical and political measures nature are inadequate and inefficient. 

The Russian Federation as a permanent member of the UN Security Council is responsible for maintaining peace and security all over the world. In recent years, the Russian Armed Forces along with the other members of the international community have repeatedly participated in prevention or elimination of internecine and interethnic conflicts in the territories of both the former USSR Republics and in far-abroad countries. Geographic scale of such places is vast: South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, Tajikistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Metohija, Angola, Chad, Sierra Leone and Sudan. In these countries Russian servicemen have already proved themselves to be experienced and highly qualified peacekeepers capable of accomplishing the assigned tasks. 

The 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is formed in order to prepare the Russian troops to take part in operations to maintain international peace and security. Its troops can be detached to peacekeeping contingents according to the decision of the President of the Russian Federation and in the interests of the Commonwealth of Independent States, UN, OSCE, NATO-Russia Council and, if necessary, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Another important aspect of Russia's participation in international peacekeeping activities is sending military observers to the UN missions. They serve in the Middle East, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sudan. It is noteworthy that our country is among ten-top countries in the world with the highest number of military observers at the United Nations.

At the same time, Russia has a special responsibility for maintaining security in the CIS. Thus, joint peacekeeping forces of Russia and Moldova are still present in Transnistria for peaceful settlement of the armed conflict and on the basis of the appropriate agreement.

In addition, the Russian troops serve as peacekeepers in military contingent of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. This contingent was formed in October 2007. It is intended, above all, to participate in peacekeeping operations in the territories of the CSTO member states (under the decision of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO), as well as outside of these states (on the basis of mandates by the UN Security Council).

It is worth noting that today the role and importance of peacekeeping activity is increasing in development of the Russian Armed Forces. After the Russian Armed Forces reformed, our military units have become more prepared to participate in international peacekeeping operations – both in order to maintain peace and security in conflict zones and protecting the interests of Russia and the lives of its citizens.