10/14/2002:
UKRAINE BEGINS TU-22, TU-22M BOMBER ELIMINATION On 14 October 2002, Agentstvo
voyennykh novostey reported that the Ukrainian Aviation Transport Company had begun
work on eliminating Tu-22 [NATO name 'Blinder'] bombers, Tu-22M3 [NATO name
'Backfire'] bombers, and Kh-22 [NATO designation AS-4 'Kitchen'] cruise missiles
under a contract issued by the US company Raytheon and funded by the US government. A
total of 30 bombers and 230 missiles will be destroyed over a period of two and
a half years. Bombers will be scrapped at Mykolayiv
and Poltava
air bases, their engines in Bila Tserkva and Khmelnytskyy,
and the cruise missiles in
Ozernyy (Zhytomyr
Oblast). The first bomber will be eliminated on 12 November 2002.[1] The results
will be verified by US inspectors.[2] Sources:
[1] Agentstvo voyennykh novostey, 14 October 2002; in "Ukraine begins scrapping
of TU-22 bombers, Kh-22 cruise missiles," FBIS Document CEP20021014000237.
[2] ITAR-TASS, 11 October 2002; in "Ukraine to begin destroying 30 Tu-22M
strategic bombers in Nov," FBIS Document CEP20021011000412. {Entered 10/22/2002
MJ}
11/4/2001: US TO HELP UKRAINE
ELIMINATE 47 TU-22 BOMBERS UNIAN
reported on 4 November 2001 that the director of the US SOAE
program in Ukraine, John Connell, announced that the US government will help
Ukraine eliminate 47 Tu-22 bombers. Since Ukraine has only about 20 Tu-22
bombers [NATO designation 'Blinder'], most of the aircraft in question are
likely to be the more advanced Tu-22M [NATO designation 'Backfire'] bombers.
The US government had previously signed an agreement to eliminate seven of the
bombers, after which the government of Ukraine requested assistance in
eliminating an additional 40 aircraft. While Connell said elimination activities
can start as soon as the bombers are delivered to the elimination facilities,
this process has been delayed by the need to obtain technical assistance from
Russia, where Tu-22 and Tu-22M design and manufacturing facilities are
located. ["SShA pomogut
Ukraine likvidirovat 47 tyazhelykh bombardirovshchikov Tu-22," UNIAN, No. 044
(184), 29 October-4 November 2001.] {Entered 6/13/2002 MJ} 8/20-26/2001: NAFTOHAZ UKRAYINY REPAYMENT TO DEFENSE
MINISTRY FOR BOMBERS TO FALL SHORT OF FULL AMOUNT THIS YEAR Naftohaz Ukrayiny Chairman and First Deputy Minister of
Fuel
and Energy Vadym Kopylov announced that this year Naftohaz will not be
able to finish repaying the full amount it owes the Ukrainian
Defense
Ministry as part of a three-party deal involving the transfer of 11 heavy bombers to Russia.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry transferred 11 bombers to Russia in exchange
for forgiveness of $270 million of Naftohaz gas debt to Russia; in turn
Naftohaz must pay the $270 million back to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Kopylov stated that
Naftohaz had paid
$45 million of the debt in 2000 and paid another $125 million on 1 July
2001. The Defense Ministry has threatened to take
the issue to an arbitration court to recover the remaining $100 million, but
is also considering the alternative
possibility of forgiving the remaining amount in exchange for a reduction in
utility service debt owed Naftohaz.
["V tekushchem godu 'Neftegaz Ukrainy'
ne pogasit svoy dolg pered Minoborony za bombardirovshchik," UNIAN, No.
34, 20-26 August 2001.] {Entered 10/15/2001 RG}
5/17/2001: UKRAINE DISMANTLES LAST TU-95MS,
FULFILLS HEAVY BOMBER DISMANTLEMENT OBLIGATIONS On 17 May 2001, Ukraine's last Tu-95MS [NATO name
'Bear-H'] heavy bomber was dismantled during a ceremony at the Uzyn
Air Base in Kiev Oblast. The dismantlement was observed by officials from the
US Defense Department.[1] With this dismantlement, Ukraine has
fulfilled its obligations under START I requiring the dismantlement of the
strategic heavy bombers and their accompanying ALCMs that remained in
Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union. Ukraine was obligated to
dismantle 44 (29 Tu-95MS and 15 Tu-160 [NATO name 'Blackjack']) heavy bombers
and 1068 Kh-55 [NATO name AS-15 'Kent'] ALCMs.
Under an agreement with Russia, an
additional five Russian TU-95MS bombers were dismantled in Ukraine. A total
of 38 heavy bombers and 483 ALCMs were dismantled or converted from a
nuclear role at a
cost of $13 million in funding from the United States. Eleven heavy
bombers (three
Tu-95MSs and eight Tu-160s) and 581 Kh-55 ALCMs were transferred
to Russia in exchange for $285 million in natural gas debt in
2000.[1,2] Two bombers (one Tu-95MS and one Tu-160) were sent
to a museum in Poltava, and two Tu-95 MS bombers were converted for environmental
reconnaissance missions.[3]
Sources: [1] "Ukraina izbavilas ot sovetskogo
naslediya," Kommersant, 18 May 2001, p. 11. [2] "Ukraina polnostyu vypolnila svoi
obyazatelstva po likvidatsii strategicheskikh aviatsionnykh kompleksov,"
UNIAN, No. 179, 17 May 2001. [3] "V Ukraine likvidirovan posledniy
strategicheskiy bombardirovshchik," Xinhua News Agency, 18 May
2001. {Entered 6/5/01 RG}
2/5-11/2001: US TO FUND TU-22 AND TU-22M BOMBER
ELIMINATION According to a 5-11 February 2001 UNIAN report, the US
Department of Defense and Ukraine's Ministry of Defense are in the final
stages of negotiations concerning US assistance for the elimination of
Ukrainian Tu-22 [NATO designation 'Blinder'] and Tu-22M [NATO designation
'Backfire'] heavy bombers. Ukraine currently possesses approximately 22 Tu-22
and 60 Tu-22M bombers, about 40 of which have exhausted their service lives
and would be scrapped. The dismantlement will be carried out by the Raytheon
Technical Services Company and will be funded through the
Cooperative
Threat Reduction program. Tu-22 and Tu-22M eliminations are expected to
begin following the dismantlement of the remaining Tu-95MS heavy
bombers. ['Tu-22 Ukraine tozhe ne nuzhny. Kiev gotov unichtozhit
bolshuyu chast svoikh tyazhelykh bombardirovshchikov," UNIAN, No.
006(146), 5-11 February 2001.] {Entered 5/10/2001 MJ}
2/2/2001: UKRAINE DISMANTLES LAST TU-160 UNIAN reported on 2 February 2001 that the last
Tu-160 [NATO name 'Blackjack'] heavy bomber in Ukraine was
dismantled at Pryluky Air Base in accordance with START I
requirements. Present at the dismantlement were Ukrainian Air Force
Commander Colonel-General Viktor Strelnykov and US Department of
Defense representative Brigadier General (Ret.) Thomas Kuenning.[1] The remaining four
Tu-95MS
[NATO name 'Bear H'] heavy bombers in Ukraine are due to be
dismantled in May 2001.[2]
Sources: [1] "Zhizn i smert strategicheskogo
naslediya," UNIAN, No. 5, 29 January-4 February 2001. [2] "Last Ukrainian Tu-160
destroyed," Jane's Defence Weekly, 14 February 2001, p. 5.
{Entered 3/20/01 RG}
12/18/2000: UKRAINE TO DISMANTLE ALL OF
ITS STRATEGIC BOMBERS BY MAY 2001 Interfax reported on 18 December 2000 that Ukraine
plans to dismantle all of its remaining strategic bombers by May 2001.[1] During
an inspection of elimination facilities completed in December 2000, US observers confirmed that two
Tu-160s and two Tu-95MSs were destroyed at their respective bases in
Pryluky and Uzyn. US observers also
confirmed that five Tu-95MS bombers were destroyed at Bila
Tserkva.[2] One Tu-160 had
previously been reported dismantled at Pryluky in 1998.[1] Two bombers
(one
Tu-95MS and one Tu-160) have been transferred to a museum
and two Tu-95MSs
have been refitted for environmental reconnaissance.[2]
The transfer of 11 bombers (eight Tu-160s and three
Tu-95MSs) to Russia has allowed Ukrainian officials to accelerate the time
schedule to dismantle the remaining bombers. According to Ukraine's START
Implementation Support Center Chief Volodymyr Shapovalov, the remaining
Tu-160s will be destroyed by early March 2001 at Pryluky, and the remaining
Tu-95MSs will be destroyed at Uzyn by May 2001.[1] US
representatives expressed satisfaction that Ukraine is fulfilling its START commitment to eliminate all of its bombers by December 2001.
The United States is also expected to fund another project to decommission
Ukrainian Tu-22 bombers in the near
future.[1]
Sources: [1] Interfax, No. 3, 18 December
2000. [2] Ukrinform, 15 December 2000; in
"US verifiers satisfied with Ukraine destroying heavy bombers,"
FBIS Document CEP20001215000330. {Entered 1/9/01 RG}
8/11/2000: UKRAINE
DENIES NEGOTIATING ADDITIONAL BOMBER TRANSFERS On 11 August 2000 Ukrainian National Security and
Defense Council representative Valeriy Ivashchenko denied media reports that
talks took place between Ukraine and Russia on the transfer of additional
strategic bombers in exchange for Russian gas debt relief.[1] Ivashchenko asserted that the talks never took place,
and said that Kiev has made a political decision to scrap the bombers. The
decision to dismantle the bombers may have been influenced by US reminders
that aid for bomber dismantlement would be halted if the bombers were
transferred.[2] For more
information on US foreign assistance to Ukraine, see the 8/7/2000
entry in the CTR Developments in
Ukraine section.
Sources: [1] UNIAN, 11 August 2000; in
"Security official denies Ukraine discussed transferring more bombers to
Russia," FBIS Document CEP20000811000205. [2] Zerkalo nedeli, 12 August 2000; in
"Ukraine: Analysis of implications of possible transfer of bombers
to Russia," FBIS Document CEP20000814000069. {Entered 1/8/01 RG}
7/31/2000: TALKS ON TRANSFER
OF ADDITIONAL BOMBERS TO RUSSIA PLANNED On 31 July 2000 Interfax reported that the Russian
Air Force will soon begin talks with the Ukrainian company Ukrspetseksport on transferring additional Tu-160 [NATO designation 'Blackjack'] and Tu-95MS
[NATO designation 'Bear-H'] strategic bombers in return for canceling Ukraine's energy debts to Russia. The negotiations will concern three Tu-160
and seven Tu-95MS bombers which are believed to be in good repair.
Ukraine also proposes transferring four disassembled Tu-95MS bombers and 80 cruise missiles.
["Rossiya mozhet priobresti u Ukrainy
yeschche desyat strategicheskikh bombardirovshchikov i krylatyye rakety,"
Interfax, No.1, 31 July 2000.] {Entered 8/10/2000 MJ} 5/25/2000: UKRAINE TO SCRAP RUSSIAN BOMBERS The government of Ukraine has decided to scrap five Tu-95
strategic bombers belonging to the Russian Air Force. The aircraft
were sent to a repair facility in Bila Tserkva, Kiev Oblast, in 1992-1993
for maintenance. They were impounded by Ukrainian authorities after
Russia failed to pay the $14 million repair bill. The Russian Defense
Ministry protested the decision, stating that the bombers are Russian property.
A senior Russian Defense Ministry official expressed hope that the matter
would be resolved through negotiations.[1,2]
[Ivan Safronov, “Ukraine Intends
to Destroy Russian Bombers,” Kommersant, 27 May 2000, p.2; in “Russia Objects
to Ukraine Plan To Scrap Tu95s Over Debts,” FBIS Document CEP20000529000096.]
{Entered
6/26/00 MJ}
4/4/2000: TWO BOMBERS TO BECOME MUSEUM
EXHIBITS, TWO OTHERS WILL BE USED AS "ENVIRONMENTAL RECONNAISSANCE" AIRCRAFT At a press conference on 4 April 2000, Oleksandr
Kuzmuk, Ukraine's Minister of Defense, stated that two strategic bombers
would be sent to a Poltava aviation and space museum while two others would
serve as so-called "environmental reconnaissance" aircraft. Of the
two bombers earmarked for the Poltava museum, one, a Tu-160 [NATO name
'Blackjack'], was formerly based at the Priluky Airbase in Poltava Oblast,
and the other, a Tu-95MS [NATO name 'Bear'], was formerly based in at the
Uzin airbase in Kyiv Oblast. The two so-called "reconnaissance"
aircraft come from the Uzin airbase and will be based in Nikolayev Oblast.
Kuzmuk also stated that by October 2001, the remaining 29 bombers located
at the Uzin and Priluky airbases will be destroyed.
["Na Ukraine strategicheskiy bombardirovshchik
Tu-160 peredan v muzey aviatsii," Interfax, 4 April 2000.] {Entered 5/2/2000
GD}
2/21/2000: FINAL STRATEGIC BOMBERS SENT
TO RUSSIA For more information, see the 2/21/00
entry in Russia: Nuclear
Weapons: Bombers:Bombers/ALCM
Force Developments.
11/5/99: UKRAINE SENDS RUSSIA FIRST TWO STRATEGIC
BOMBERS On 5 November 1999, Russia received the first two
Tu-160 [NATO name 'Blackjack'] strategic bombers from Ukraine.
Ukraine plans to supply a total of eight Tu-160s and three Tu-95MSs [NATO
name 'Bear'].[1,2] In addition, 144 Kh-55 [NATO name AS-15 'Kent']
cruise missiles will be attached to the bombers: 12 to each Tu-160 and
16 to each Tu-95MS. Ukrainian and Russian Prime Ministers Valeriy Pustovoytenko
and Vladimir Putin, respectively, signed their governments' corresponding
decrees on the transfer of the strategic bombers on 2 November 1999. The
transfer of the strategic bombers from Ukraine to Russia is part of a gas
debt settlement.[3] While Ukraine had originally wanted $75 million for
each bomber, the final agreement values each bomber at $25 million and
the missiles at $10 million, for a total reduction of Ukraine's gas debt
by $285 million. The 11 Tu-160s and 18 Tu-95MSs remaining in Ukraine
after the above sale will be destroyed in accordance with international
agreements.[4]
Sources: [1] Ilya Kedrov, "Raketonostsy menyayut
khozyayev," Nezavisimaya gazeta, online edition, news.mosinfo.ru/news/ng/99/11/data/ng111013.htm,
No. 210, 10 November 1999. [2] "Novosti" newscast, Russian Public
Television, 5 November 1999; in "500 Cruise Missiles Come With Ukrainian
Planes," FBIS Document FTS19991105000302. [3] Ivan Safronov, "No Way Do They
Send Off Aircraft. Kiev Has Halted Handover of Bombers to Russia," Kommersant,
5 November 1999, p. 2; in "Ukrainian Bombers' Move to Russia Delayed,"
FBIS Document FTS19991105001019. [4] Ilya Kedrov, "Ukraina otdayet dolgi
bombardirovshchikami," Nezavisimaya gazeta, 22-28 October 1999,
p. 1.{Entered 11/15/99 SK} 8/26/99: AGREEMENT ON SALE OF 10 STRATEGIC BOMBERS COMPLETED According to Anatoliy Kornukov, Russian Air Force Commander-In-Chief, who
participated in the meeting of Ukrainian and Russian prime ministers Valeriy
Pustovoytenko and Vladimir Putin in August 1999, an agreement on the transfer
of 10 Ukrainian strategic bombers to Russia has been completed. Russian
Prime Minister Putin, however, expressed doubts about whether or not Russia
actually needs the bombers.
["V. Pustovoytenko i V. Putinu ne udalos dogovoritsya po
probleme uregulirovaniya ukrainskoy zadolzhennosti za energonositeli,"
UNIAN, No. 34, 23 - 29 August 1999.] {Entered 9/10/99 SK} 8/99: UKRAINE OFFERS RUSSIA 10 STRATEGIC BOMBERS
TO CANCEL GAS DEBT Ukraine has offered Russia eight Tu-160 and two Tu-95 strategic bombers
to pay off part of the $1.8 billion the Ukrainian government owes Russia
for natural gas. Russia would then convert them to conventional bombers.[1,2,4]
According to Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleksandr
Chaliy, neither transfer nor conversion of the bombers would violate the
START Treaty.[2,3] The price for each bomber has yet to be negotiated,
but according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk it could exceed
$25 million. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense added that Ukraine intends to
retain several bombers for intelligence and exposition purposes and for
the so-called "Take-off" program.[1] The possible transfer was discussed
by Russian Prime Minister Sergey Stepashin during his visit to Kiev in
early August 1999.[4] A final decision could be reached during a visit
by Ukrainian Prime Minister Valeriy Pustovoytenko to Moscow scheduled for
the end of August 1999.[5]
Sources: [1] "Za rossiyskiy gaz Ukraina namerena raschitatsya strategicheskimi
bombardirovshchikami," UNIAN, 28 July 1999. [2] "Bombardirovshchik - kak nerazmennyy rubl. oplatit vse
raschety," UNIAN, 2 - 8 August 1999, No. 031. [3] "V MID Ukrainy schitayut, chto peredacha Rossii bombardirovshchikov
v schet dolga za gaz ne narushit dogovor SNV," Interfax, 3 August 1999,
No. 4. [4] Tatyana Ivzhenko, "Bombers As Tender: Ukraine Has Not
Thus Far Managed To Compensate the Arrears For Russian Gas With Second-Hand
Aircraft," Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 11 August 1999, p. 5; in "Exchange
Of Bombers For Gas Debt Denied," FBIS Document FTS19990812000775. [5] "Vozmozhnost pogasheniya ukrainskikh dolgov Rossii strategicheskimi
bombardirovshchikami budet reshena k vizitu V. Pustovoytenko v Moskvu,"
UNIAN, 12 August 1999, No. 32. {Entered 8/11/99 SK}
4/29/99: RUSSIA OFFERS UKRAINE MILITARY TRANSPORT PLANES IN EXCHANGE
FOR STRATEGIC BOMBERS At a Russian Security Council meeting on 29 April 1999, Russia decided
to offer to exchange 11 An-22 and An-24 military transport planes for eight
Tu-160 and three TU-95 Ukrainian strategic bombers. The Russian Ministry
of Defense is considering equipping the bombers with cruise missiles with
conventional warheads.
[Ilya Bulavinov, Ivan Safronov, Komersant Daily, 30
April 1999, p. 1; in "Yeltsin Orders Repairs For the Nuclear Shield," Lexis-Nexis
Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.]
{Entered 8/11/99 SK}
4/10/99: UKRAINE HOPES TO SELL THREE TU-160S TO A US SATELLITE
COMPANY Ukraine hopes to sign a $20 million contract with a US satellite company,
Platforms International Corporation, under which three Tu-160 strategic
bombers and their spare parts would be sold to be converted into satellite
launching platforms.[1] However, the START I Treaty, according to which
all Ukrainian heavy bombers should be destroyed by 2001, reportedly does
not allow such a conversion.[2] Russia objects to the intended sale on
this basis.[1] According to the Head of the Department of Control over
Armament and Disarmament of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleksiy Rybak,
Ukraine will attempt to amend the Treaty to make the sale possible. If
realized, the contract could initiate further cooperation between the US
and Ukraine in the commercial space field.[3]
Sources: [1] Ivan Safronov, "American Will Not Get the Ukrainian Blackjack,"
Kommersant
online
edition, 17 April 1999; in "Objection To Ukrainian Sale Of Tu-160s," FBIS
Document FTS19990504001744. [2] Den, 10 April 1999; in "Go-Ahead Given For Sale
Of Three Tu-160 Strategic Bombers," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe. [3] UNIAN, 19 April 1999; in "Ukrainian Foreign Ministry
To Insist On Treaty Changes To Sell Bombers," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
{Entered 8/11/99 SK}
11/16/98: UKRAINIAN BOMBERS ARE BEING DESTROYED On 16 November 1998, at the Priluky air force base, Ukraine demolished
the first of 44 Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers.[1] The
United States financed the destruction, which falls under the Nunn-Lugar
program.[2] The remaining 43 strategic bombers are planned to be
demolished by 2001 at an estimated cost of $8 million to the United States.[1,3]
All the secret equipment has to be taken away from the bombers prior to
the destruction process, which involves cutting the aircraft into four
parts. Ukraine plans to utilize the scrap metal for peaceful industrial
purposes.[1] More than a thousand cruise missiles that were specially
designed for the heavy bombers will also be destroyed.[1,4] Despite
the fact that the destruction is being conducted under START I,[1,3] Dmytro
Shkurko, head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense press service, noted
that "...the destruction does not mean that Ukraine has begun planned destruction
of the bombers-this was just a test of the technology...."[2]
Sources: [1] Mikhail Melnik, ITAR-TASS, 16 November 1998; in "Ukraine
Begins Scrapping Bombers Under Treaty With US," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe. [2] UNIAN, 20 November 1998; in "Tu-160 Strategic Bomber
Destroyed Under Threat Reduction Programme With USA," Lexis-Nexis Academic
Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe. [3] Interfax, 17 November 1998; in "Strategic Bombers To
Be Dismantled With US Funds Over Two Years," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe. [4] Agence France Presse, 13 November 1998; in "Ukraine Begins
Bomber Dismantling," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
{Entered 12/2/98 SK}
7/98: DOD AMENDS CTR AGREEMENT WITH UKRAINE, FUNDS
BOMBER DESTRUCTION For more on this development, see the 7/98
entry under Ukraine: Foreign Assistance.
5/98: UKRAINE AND RUSSIA NEGOTIATE HEAVY
BOMBER ISSUES Please see the NIS Nuclear Profiles overview of the
bomber decommissioning/transfer issue for information on Ukrainian-Russian
negotiations on this topic as of May 1998.
4/29/98: US WILL ASSIST IN ELIMINATION OF 44 STRATEGIC BOMBERS The United States and Ukraine initiated talks on a cooperative project
to dismantle 25 Tu-95MS "Bear" and up to 19 Tu-160 "Blackjack" strategic
bombers. The project will be carried out under the CTR program. According
to Ukrainian Security and Defense Council Secretary Volodymyr Horbulin,
40
of the 44 bombers will be destroyed, two will be converted, and two will
be turned over to a museum.
["USA Plans To Help Ukraine Eliminate Bombers," Jane's
Defense Weekly, 29 April 1998, p. 6.] {Entered 8/10/99 SK} 12/29/95: FORMER SOVIET BOMBERS WILL BE RETURNED TO RUSSIA It was reported that 19 TU-160s and 24 TU-95 strategic bombers will be
transferred from Ukraine to Russia in return for spare parts, technical
documentation, and technical aviation services for Ukraine. Earlier reports
cited 24 TU-160s and suggested that this barter deal was worth $1.5 billion.
Russian Air Force representatives said the first of two stages in this
transfer would include 10 TU-160 bombers from Priluky, 15 TU-95MCs, and
300 cruise missiles.
["Informatsiya," Yaderniy Kontrol, 1/96, p. 9. See
also Bohdan Yaroshchinsky, "Hrabli, Yaki Hrebut Vid Cebe," Holos Ukrainy,
1/30/96, p. 12; "In Sochi Shmarov Gave Away The Kit Along With The Kaboodle,"
The
Rukh Insider, The Institute Of Statehood and Democracy, 2/7/96; Oleksandr
Pukhov, INTELNEWS, 12/30/95.]
11/25/95:UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS AGREED TO SELL BOMBERS TO RUSSIA In Sochi, Ukrainian officials agreed to sell 44 TU-160s and Tu-95s to Russia.
In return, Ukraine reportedly will receive spare parts for equipment used
in the Ukrainian armed forces. One source states that Ukraine will begin
by handing over 25 bombers (type unspecified). UPRESA reported that Ukraine
will hand over 23 TU-95s, which contradicts earlier reports of 25 TU-95s
(see 9-10/95 entry in this section).
["Ukraina Sokrashchaet Vooruzhennye Sily I Prodaet Strategicheskiye
Rakety Rossii," Izvestiya, 11/30/95, p. 8; "Russia Buys Nukes From
Ukraine In Accord On Defense," The Washington Times, 11/26/95, p.
A7; see also "Defense Ministry Satisfied Over Weapons Deal," UPRESA DAILY
REPORT, 11/27/95.]
9-10/95:RUSSIA NO LONGER INTERESTED IN UKRAINIAN
BOMBERS In 2/95, Russia reportedly agreed to pay Ukraine $190 million for 25 Tu-95M
and 19 Tu-160. Now, the planes have deteriorated and have not flown for
5 years and Russia is no longer interested in purchasing them. In 4/95,
a report said that only 4 of each type of heavy bomber was capable of flying.
["Rossiya-Ukraina," Yadernyy Kontrol, 1/96, p. 9;
Robert Norris and William Arkin, "Estimated Russian (C.I.S.) Stockpile,
September 1995," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 9-10/95; Doug
Clarke, "Russia To Buy Ukrainian Missiles, Bombers," OMRI DAILY DIGEST,
11/27/95.]
6/14/95:RUSSIA WILL NOT USE UKRAINIAN BOMBERS According to Defense Minister Valeriy Shmarov, Russia has no plans to use
the strategic bombers, since they are no longer a priority for the Russian
military and there are no buyers for them.
[Interfax, 6/14/95, in "Shmarov: Russia Not To Use Ukraine's
Long-Range Bombers," FBIS-SOV-95-115, 6/14/95.]
6/7/95:FATE OF UKRAINIAN BOMBERS WILL DEPEND ON DIVISION OF
BLACK SEA FLEET An anonymous military source stated that Russia will not purchase the 44
former Soviet bombers and 600 ALCMs on Ukrainian territory until the problem
of dividing the Black Sea Fleet is solved. Several months ago, Russia and
Ukraine agreed that Ukraine would return the bombers and ALCMs to the Russian
air force in return for a $190 million reduction in Ukraine's debt to Russia.
[Doug Clarke, "Fleet Impasse Holds Up Bomber Deal," OMRI
Daily Digest, 6/8/95.]
5/16/95:UKRAINIAN FUEL DEBT COULD BE EXCHANGED FOR BOMBERS AND
ALCMs Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev stated that Russia has not decided
if it is going to purchase the 44 strategic bombers on Ukrainian territory.[1]
A preliminary agreement in which Russia would forgive $190 million of Ukraine's
fuel debt to Russia in exchange for the 19 Blackjack, 25 Bear bombers and
600 ALCMs has been reached[1]. Apparently, this agreement is final but
no transfers have been made yet.[2] The implementation of the agreement
is contingent upon a successful resolution of the Black Sea Fleet issue.[2]
Sources: [1] "Inside Ukraine," Post-Soviet Nuclear & Defense
Monitor, 5/1/95, p. 13. [2] Correspondence with Alexander Pikaev, Center for Critical
Technologies and Nonproliferation (Moscow), Monterey, CA, August 1995.
4/15/95:ONLY 15% OF UKRAINIAN HEAVY BOMBERS ARE IN FLYING CONDITION According to a commission from the Russian Air Force Long Range Aviation
Headquarters, only 15 percent of the TU-160s and TU-95MS bombers are in
flying condition. Nineteen TU-160s were operational one year ago, but currently
only four are capable of flying; of the 25 TU-95MS that are based at Uzin,
four could fly back to Russia without repairs. These supersonic bombers
came into service in 1988 and some of them may have been built as recently
as 1991. The Russian Air Force has set a schedule for the return of these
bombers, which will most likely go to the airfield at Engels. The are some
spare parts that are in such short supply that once the planes land in
Russia, the parts will be stripped off, sent to Ukraine, where they will
be installed on the next set of bombers returning to Russia.
[Leonid Kostrov, "Ukraine's Strategic Bombers Still Can Be
Fixed," Segodnya, 4/6/95, p. 3.]
3/28/95: RUSSIA WILL FORGIVE UKRAINE’S GAS DEBT IN EXCHANGE FOR HEAVY
BOMBERS Russia will forgive Ukraine's $192.6 million natural gas debt in exchange
for the 19 TU-160 supersonic jets and the 25 TU-95MS turbo-prop missile
carrying aircraft that Ukraine has on its territory.
[Doug Clarke, "Ukraine and Russia Said to Agree on Bomber
Price," OMRI DAILY DIGEST, No. 62, Part I, 3/28/95.]
3/14/95:UKRAINE AGREED TO SELL STRATEGIC BOMBERS FOR $75 MILLION Ukraine has agreed to sell the strategic bombers it inherited when the
Soviet Union broke up to Russia for $75 million, which is the sum that
the Russians offered, as opposed to the $800 million that Ukraine initially
demanded. The bombers and some ALCMs are to be handed over to Russia in
May.
[Doug Clarke, "Ukraine to Sell Bombers to Russia at Bargain
Price," OMRI DAILY DIGEST, No. 54, Part II, 3/16/95.]
1/19/95:QUESTION OF HEAVY BOMBER SALES DISCUSSED WITH RUSSIA Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials and a Russian military delegation
have discussed the possibility of Ukraine selling to Russia a number of
the TU-160 (Blackjack) and TU-95MS (Bear-H) bombers that Ukraine inherited
from the Soviet Union. Russian and Ukrainian specialists are to inspect
the aircraft and determine their condition and value.
["Ukraine May Sell Strategic Bombers to Russia," OMRI DAILY
DIGEST, Vol. 1, No. 14, Part II, 1/19/95.]
10/94:RUSSIA REFUSED TO PURCHASE UKRAINIAN HEAVY BOMBERS According to Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials, despite prior assurances
that it would do so, Russia decided not to purchase the Tu-160 bombers
located in Ukraine. Russia stated that a lack of funds was the reason behind
the decision.
[UNIAN (Kyiv), 10/17/94, in "Russia Calls Off Purchase of
Bombers," FBIS-SOV-94-201, 10/17/94.]
5/94: UKRAINE WILLING TO TRANSFER HEAVY BOMBERS TO RUSSIA FOR $8 BILLION Ukraine announced that it was willing to transfer its heavy strategic bombers
to Russia for the sum of $8 billion. Russian Defense officials have dismissed
the offer as unsatisfactory.
[Interfax (Moscow), 5/18/94, in "Ukrainian Readiness To Hand
Over Bombers 'Gimmick,'" FBIS-SOV-94-097, 5/19/94, p. 15.]
