Ukrainians approve deployment of Su-24s with the Black Sea Fleet

Published: 1/17/2000

The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Viktor Yushchenko, has finally approved the deployment of new Su-24Ms in Crimea. These aircraft serve with the Russian Black Sea fleet. The planes, which will replace ageing Su-17s, will be transferred from Anapa to Sevastopol according to latest reports, although it was earlier stated that the aircraft would be based at Simferopol, inland from the Black Sea Fleet base. To resolve some of the earlier concerns about nuclear capable aircraft being transferred the Su-24s are to be checked by the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that they are not armed with nuclear missiles. Under the terms of the Black Sea fleet agreement, signed between the two countries, Russia does not have a right to deploy military aircraft with nuclear missiles in Ukraine. The original timetable was to have been October 1999. Associated article: www.concise.org. 4th October 1999

Article ID: 1315