The end of the Cold War, globalization processes, the growing threat of international terrorism entailed fundamental changes in the international system. Domestic armed conflicts - bloody civil wars - play a major role in international security. In this regard, the role of United Nations peacekeeping is increasing. UN peacekeeping operations are one of the main tools for resolving armed conflicts and controlling the situation “between war and peace”. However, the nature of peacekeeping operations has changed over time: the mandates of the newest missions include the use of military force. New missions have become “multidisciplinary,” directed to solve many tasks — humanitarian, military, and political. In the course of this study, an analysis of UN peacekeeping operations for ending and overcoming the consequences of civil wars will be made taking to the account the participation of a military contingent.