UKRAINE: MILITARY HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID -- UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 002720

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO SU UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: MILITARY HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID -- UPDATE

REF: A. KYIV 2677

B. STATE 147667

C. KYIV 2515

D. STATE 136068

Classified By: DCM James Pettit for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (SBU) As noted ref A, DCM had a follow-up meeting October
26 with MFA Second Territorial Department Director Ihor
Hrushko concerning ref B request for Ukraine to consider
contributing helicopters or other critical force
multipliers/enablers required for the UN/African Union hybrid
peacekeeping operation in Darfur, Sudan (UNAMID). Hrushko
said he had sat in on a meeting that same morning between UK
Ambassador Timothy Barrow and MFA Deputy Foreign Minister
Volodymyr Khandohiy on the same topic. Hrushko lamented that
Barrow had no specific details regarding the UN requirements
and urged us to provide them. DCM responded that Ukraine
should engage with the UN Peacekeeping Department on the
specific requirements as well as to obtain details of the
security situation in Darfur.


2. (U) Hrushko commented that the information would be
necessary to support the Ukrainian government's
decision-making process on the issue, but that any decision
ultimately to deploy helicopters would require parliamentary
ratification. Ukraine was basically supportive of
peacekeeping operations, but it faced a severe shortage of
operational helicopters; in addition, there was concern about
the security situation in Darfur. Hrushko added that Ukraine
had two non-operational Mi-26s (note: the most powerful and
heaviest production helicopters ever) that had the cargo
capacity of 10 Mi-8s. If the U.S. or UK wished to provide
assistance to rebuild the helicopters, Hrushko opined,
Ukraine might be able to meet the UNAMID requirements with
them.


3. (C) Comment: We suspect that Hrushko's insistence on
obtaining precise details of UNAMID's requirements is simply
a delaying tactic. At the same time, if we are to have any
traction with the Ukrainians, the UN will need to engage the
Ukrainian mission directly to reinforce the urgency and
criticality of the request. Even if Ukraine is unable to
contribute the helicopter lift, the UN might still be able to
contract with Ukraine's state-owned companies, which have
proven their mettle in past operations, to obtain the
necessary air transport services.


4. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Taylor