| Ukrainian police stop Russian military cargo |
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03/11/2009 13:34 (129 Day 04:47 minutes ago) | ||||
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The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, Ukrainian police in the Crimea stopped on November 2 morning a Russian truck carrying anti-ship missiles in the fifth such incident this year.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet uses a range of naval facilities in Ukraine 's Crimea, including a base in Sevastopol, as part of a 1997 lease agreement valid until 2017.
The Russian truck was taking the missiles to be decommissioned and, in accordance with safety requirements, was accompanied by two other vehicles and armed security personnel. Ukrainian traffic police demanded that it return to base, saying the Russian Black Sea fleet's actions had not been coordinated with the Ukrainian Navy.
Russian Black Sea Fleet officers who escorted the cargo maintain that they held documents allowing the transportation of missiles for decommissioning.
"For reasons unknown to us, Ukraine failed to notify the police, in particular traffic police and security service officers," a Russian Black Sea Fleet spokesman said.
The Russian officers said they would hold talks, adding that returning to the base was "senseless."
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has led calls for Russia to prepare to withdraw its fleet from Ukraine 's territory when the agreement on the base expires, although Russia hopes to extend the lease.
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