Ukraine, Kiev, 18 March / Trend corr. Z.Novosvitski / Ihor Kinal, 25, a senior lieutenant Ukrainian member of the international force in Kosovo, was seriously wounded in a clash with Serb protesters in the north on 17 March and later died in hospital, the public Relations Department at Ukrainian Internal Ministry reported on 18 March.
According to further details received, the peacemaker died at 10.00p.m on 17 March, after surgery.
The demonstrators in Mitrovica in Kosovo fired at United Nations and NATO peacekeepers. The incident occurred after the UN police ended the occupation by Serbs of a court building in the city. 20 Ukrainian and 22 Polish peacekeepers were injured.
The Serbs were protesting against the independence of Kosovo, formerly a province of Serbia. Ukraine volunteered 155 police and 182 military personnel to the peacekeeping force in Kosovo.
Overall, 20 Ukrainian peacemakers were wounded in Kosovo on 17 March and are currently undergoing medical treatment in hospitals.