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Ukrainian Police Intercept Russian Missile ConvoyJul 13, 2009 (Radio Free Europe Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine -- A Russian military convoy transporting short- and medium-range missiles was intercepted by Ukrainian police in the Crimean port of Sevastopol this week, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports. The convoy, which was stopped on the night of July 8, included three missile-carrying trucks covered by a tarpaulin as well as a fire truck and did not have the necessary permits to transport the missiles through the city The vehicles were en route to a technical base some 30 kilometers outside Sevastopol that is maintained by Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Ukrainian authorities said the Russian military convoy initially would not allow police to check the contents of the convoy but eventually the police were allowed to do so. The trucks contained an unspecified number of SS N-2 short-range and SS N-9 medium-range missiles, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. SS N-9 missiles were used by the Russian Black Sea Fleet against the Georgian Navy during last year's war. According to Ukrainian-Russian agreements, Black Sea Fleet movements of troops, armaments, or other military equipment must be approved by the Ukrainian authorities. The convoy was returned to its point of origin. Copyright (c) 2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org |