Ukraine terminates agreement with Russia on missile system operation

MOSCOW. Jan 9 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government has terminated an agreement between the Ukrainian and Russian governments on the extension of the term of operation of the 15P118M missile system.

The Ukrainian media reported, citing Taras Melnichuk, a government representative in the Verkhovna Rada, that the relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Friday, January 6.

It is noted that the agreement, which was signed on February 21, 2006 in Moscow, has been terminated due to the drastic turn of events, which prevents the main developer (Yangel Yuzhnoye Design Bureau state enterprise) and the manufacturer (Makarov Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant Production Association state enterprise) from maintaining the 15P118M strategic missiles that are in service in Russia.

Additionally, the government proposed that the Verkhovna Rada withdraw from the protocol of the Commonwealth of Independent States on social and legal guarantees for servicemen.

In particular, the bill on Ukraine's withdrawal from the Protocol to the Agreement among the CIS Member States on Social and Legal Guarantees for Servicemen, Persons Discharged from Military Service and Members of their Families of February 14, 1992, was approved.

The Protocol identifies social guarantees, rights, benefits and compensations for citizens who served in military units of the Armed Forces, other troops, military formations and bodies of the former Soviet Union and who were transferred (enlisted) for military service in the Armed Forces, other troops, military formations and bodies of the CIS member states.

It is noted that the social guarantees stipulated by the Protocol are currently provided if a person moved to a permanent place of residence from one CIS country to another.

It is also stipulated that these persons are entitled to the rights and benefits, guarantees and compensations established by the legislation for servicemen of a CIS country chosen for permanent residence.