Transfer of Authority between National Army Contingents in KFOR Operation

CHISINAU, July 14, 2022 — The service members of the 17th National Army contingent deployed to the KFOR peacekeeping operation have started their mission in Kosovo. They took over the duties of peacekeepers from the 16th Moldovan contingent, during a transfer of authority ceremony, held in the "Camp Villaggio Italia" multinational base from Pech village.

In the presence of the commander of the Western Regional Command (RC-W), colonel Marco Javarone, lieutenant-colonel Vladimir Covalenco, commander of KFOR-16, handed over the flag and the responsibilities of the position to Major Vadim Birca, who will be in this position for the next six months.

During the event, the Moldovan soldiers, who are ending their mandate in Kosovo this week, were decorated with the KFOR Operation Medal.

The 17th contingent of the National Army consists of 40 service members. The Moldovan officers and NCOs will perform guarding and defense operations of objects of strategic importance, missions to ensure the security of the "Camp Villaggio Italia" base, including the Visoki Decani Monastery, as well as intelligence research and detection of explosive objects in the area of responsibility.