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Ukraine refutes reports on plans to join military operation against Islamic State

Xinhua, February 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry on Monday has rejected as "misinformation" media reports that it plans to join international military operation against the so-called Islamic State (IS).

"We are not considering a possibility of deploying the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for combat purposes in Syria and Iraq," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

As a part of the international efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, Ukraine only provides political support for the fight against IS and shares intelligence information with relevant agencies, the statement said.

The statement came in response to reports in some western and local media saying that the Ukrainian Defence Ministry is drawing up plans for a potential military contribution to the fight against IS.

The controversial reports have triggered a strong reaction in the Ukrainian society, with local experts describing them as "surprising" and "alarming".

Analysts suggested that the Ukrainian army, which has been confronting with pro-independence rebels in eastern regions for almost two years, has neither technical, no military resources to join international efforts in combat campaign against IS. Endit