To identify the factors associated with the onset of depression and anxiety in professional soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo in 2009. A cross-sectional study of 244 members of the Slovenian Armed Forces on a peace-keeping mission, using the Depression Self Rating Scale, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and a background questionnaire, was performed. A 6.9% prevalence of depression and a 7.9% prevalence of anxiety were identified. The presence of a chronic pain condition and the recent termination of an intimate relationship were independently associated with the onset of either anxiety or depression or with a co-morbidity of anxiety and depression. In spite of medical and psychological examinations prior to peacekeeping operations, the onset of anxiety and depression calls for special attention and empowerment by teaching peacekeepers how to use their social support and personal mastery resources. Določiti dejavnike, povezane z nastopom depresije in tesnobe pri poklicnih vojakih na mirovni misiji na Kosovu. Presečna študija, v katero je bilo vključenih 244 pripadnikov Slovenske vojske na mirovni misiji, je bila izvedena leta 2009. Uporabljeni so bili Zungov vprašalnik za samooceno depresije in anksioznosti, lestvica za samooceno kronične bolečine ter vprašanja o demografskih značilnostih. Pojavnost depresije je bila 6,9 %, anksioznosti pa 7,9 %. Prisotnost kronične bolečine in nedavna prekinitev intimnega razmerja sta bili neodvisno povezani s pojavom anksioznosti ali depresije oziroma s sopojavljanjem obeh. Glede na to, da so bili pred odhodom na mirovno misijo vojaki celovito zdravstveno pregledani in psihološko ocenjeni, terja pojav anksioznosti in/ali depresije na mirovni misiji posebno pozornost. Predlagamo poučevanje mirovnikov o uporabi in krepitvi socialne podpore ter osebnih virov odpornosti.