Russia announced Sunday the withdrawal of its peacekeeping contingent from the Russian air group in South Sudan amid concerns over the safety of its personnel. Helicopters flew on Friday to a UN base in Uganda, where they will be dismantled, Russian news agency (Ria Novosti) reported. The withdrawal follows a Russian presidential decree after the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) which ended July of last year. South Sudan won independence in July 2011 in a referendum that came as part of a peace deal to end decades of civil war. The contingent provided transport services for UN military observers in Sudan, including accompanying freight, and also carried out rescue operations.