Global Security Newswire

Russia has destroyed 25,000 metric tons of chemical warfare agents from its original stockpile of 40,000 metric tons, the Russian magazine Voenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer reported this week (see GSN, March 22).

Soman nerve agent-filled 1,100-pound bulk containers have been destroyed at depots in Maradykovsky and Leonidovka. Destruction of sarin nerve agent has wrapped up in Shchuchye and disposal of soman-filled munitions has started at the installation, according to Russian Defense Ministry ground forces spokesman Lt. Col. Nikolai Donyushkin.

Disposal continues in the Pochep area of 1,100-pound bulk containers and air-dropped munitions filled with VX nerve agent, according to Donyushkin.

Moscow has said it expected to complete chemical arsenal disposal operations by the end of 2015, three years past the formal deadline set by the Chemical Weapons Convention (Voenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer, July 27).