The additional troops EUFOR decided to send to Bosnia and Herzegovina as a “precautionary measure” in light of the Ukraine crisis have arrived at the Butmir camp near Sarajevo.
“Newly arrived EUFOR personnel are currently preparing for increased operational patrols to support our partners in BiH,” Operation EUFOR Althea posted on Twitter, along with a video:
EUFOR said earlier that four companies, comprising approximately 500 personnel from EUFOR's reserves stationed outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be deployed in the country to reinforce existing forces more effectively support our BiH in “maintaining a safe and secure environment.”
It said that “the deterioration of the security situation internationally has the potential to spread instability to Bosnia and Herzegovina” and that the deployment of these forces is a “precautionary measure to strengthen stability in BiH by positioning sufficient, capable forces in-country to support the BiH Government efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment.”
“Their mission will be to demonstrate the EU's determination to maintain stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a prudent and proportionate measure which reflects the EU's and EUFOR's unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” it said.