Ukraine sent over 6,000 troops to Iraq and lost 18 of them

Mar 2, 2025, 10:49 AM

Ukraine began its involvement in the Iraq War on 5 June 2003, shortly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, they engaged in combat with Iraqi insurgents. On 9 December 2008, Ukraine formally withdrew its last forces from Iraq, ending its participation in the Iraq War. Prior to the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine's involvement in the Iraq War was the largest military operation ever performed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Over 6,000 Ukrainians performed military service in Iraq and Kuwait during the war, including a permanent presence of 1,600, and 18 Ukrainians were killed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_involvement_in_the_Iraq_War

They also supported the US in Afghanistan.

Ukraine was a participant in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and deployed troops as part of NATO's ISAF mission to the country. It contributed medical personnel supporting Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and provided instructors for NATO's Training Mission. After ISAF's mission ended in 2014, Ukraine supported the follow-on Resolute Support Mission (2015-2021) that trained, advised and assisted Afghan security forces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participants_in_Operation_Enduring_Freedom

They're not a NATO member, but they've been a US ally for decades. Putin, on the other hand, did what he could to help Saddam kill American soldiers.

Before and during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the Russian government provided intelligence to Saddam Hussein about the location of US forces and their plans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq%E2%80%93Russia_relations

Speaking of NATO, the only country that has ever invoked Article 5 was the US after 9/11.

What was Donald Trump doing on 9/11, you might ask?

https://x.com/SmartOne8927/status/774981041358565376