Russian Defense Ministry to keep Ukrainian Lybid satellite control hardware in Crimea for now
MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry's decision to suspend the transfer of Ukrainian armaments left behind in Crimea to Kyiv made in April 2014 fully applies to the equipment of the Ukrainian Lybid communication satellite's ground control station, Aerospace Defense Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Alexander Golovko told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.
"Bearing in mind the dual use of this equipment, both for civilian and military purposes, it can be transferred to Ukraine in an established procedure only on certain terms," the commander said.
"The Yevpatoriya Main Space Center formed in the Republic of Crimea in March 2014 is storing equipment of the Lybid satellite control station," Golovko said.
The satellite was built by Reshetnev Information Satellite System on the orders from Canadian company MDA for the Ukrainian Space Agency. It can provide communication services to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
The $260-million contract with MDA was signed in 2009.
"The equipment is sealed and stored in a guarded room. It cannot be used in the interest of the Aerospace Defense Forces," Golovko emphasized.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on April 15, 2014, the Defense Ministry had suspended the transfer of Ukrainian armaments and military hardware left behind in Crimea because they could be used against the civilian population in eastern Ukraine.