This is the third time that the Military Police (MP) have been deployed to Kosovo. At the beginning of July, the members of the 2nd unit, which was part of the international specialized unit KFOR (MSU KFOR), were replaced by colleagues from the Protective Service Command of the MP in Prague. The Military Police are deployed in Kosovo as part of the Joint Enterprise mission and are working closely with the Italian Carabinieri.

Tensions between different ethnic groups still persist on the territory of Kosovo, so the presence of the Czech troops contributes to maintaining stability in the country. Like their predecessors, the third unit will also monitor the situation, conduct patrols and provide base security. In the event of emergencies or demonstrations and riots, it will also be deployed in the CRC (Crowd and Riot Control) unit.

During the handover ceremony, the outgoing Commander Colonel Konstantin Kasík, and his successor Colonel Radek Ocelka, symbolically handed over the national flag of the Czech Republic to each other. The handover ceremony was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including the Czech Ambassador to Kosovo, Bohumil Mazánek, who presented the outgoing unit with NATO medals for deployment in a foreign operation in the Balkans. Both commanders shared their experience, operational procedures and tasks in progress in order to maintain continuity of service.

"Today we start an important mission on the territory of Kosovo. This mission represents not only a great challenge but also a significant opportunity for all of us. Our presence in the area is crucial to ensure stability and peace in a region that has been and continues to be plagued by conflict and insecurity. Our tasks here will be multifaceted - from ensuring the safety and security of civilians, to working with international organisations and local authorities, to supporting local communities. Each of us has a role to play that is essential to the success of this mission. At the same time, we want to build on the work of previous MP units and continue the established cooperation with our Italian colleagues, thus being an integral part of the MSU family in Kosovo. This mission will not be easy, but I am confident in our ability and determination. Together we can achieve significant successes and contribute to a better future for the people of Kosovo," said Colonel Radek Ocelka, Commander of the 3rd unit of Military Police.

In addition to the MSU, there are also two military police officers in Kosovo in the Multinational Military Police (MNMP) structure, which is under the direct command of Force Provost Marshal KFOR. They will reinforce the traffic and order area and the special cynology area with the ability to search for explosives and narcotic and psychotropic substances.