Russia on Monday started withdrawing personnel and equipment from its aviation group in Chad, which operates as part of a UN operation in the region, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.
Russia has contributed a total of 118 peacekeepers and four Mi-8MT helicopters to the UN mission in Central African Republic and Chad.
In September 2007 the UN Security Council established in Chad and the Central African Republic "a multidimensional presence intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons".
In January 2010, N'Djamena asked the UN not to resume the peacekeeping mission. In August the UN Security Council decided to reduce the number of peacekeepers in the region and withdraw the mission completely by the end of the end.
Russian peacekeepers have been serving in Chad since November 2008.
MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti)