Yushchenko has decided to protect the Ukrainians from Somali pirates.

SyuzhetyZahvat pirates Ukrainian vessel "Faina" 13.02.2009Ekipazh release of the vessel returned to KievUkraina will join the European Union military operation against Somali pirates. This February 13, President Victor Yushchenko, meeting the crew of the newly released dry cargo ship "Faina", seized by Somali pirates in September 2008, the "Korrespondent.net.
Yushchenko said that Kiev had already engaged in negotiations to participate in this operation. According to the Ukrainian president, to the presence in the region of Ukraine have to pay several million dollars. " Who should pay Ukraine for patrolling the territorial waters of Somalia, Yushchenko did not specify.
President Yushchenko added that Ukrainian ships will be accompanied by Ukrainian vessels or vessels, the crew of which consists of Ukrainians. Note that the rest of the anti-piracy operations, such as Russia, escorted ships from different countries, not the nationality of the seafarers.
Dry cargo "Faina", carrying three dozen T-72, as well as grenade launchers and other weapons to Kenya, was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia on Sept. 25, 2008. Only managed to release the ship in February 2009. The kidnappers received the "Faina" 3.2 million dollars.
Several EU countries, as well as Russia and the U.S. sent warships to the coast of Somalia to protect the civil courts against pirates in 2008, due to frequent attacks by bandits.