Ukraine's Air Forces to train in Telemba, Russia

It will the first Ukrainian Air Forces units will carry out live launches of long-range S-200 and S-300 SAMs at the Russian training ground Telemba, the Defense Ministry press service informed Thursday.

The exercise will be held September 16-23 and involve about 180-strong Ukrainian personnel, including the command group and crews. The exercise's funds are set at about 5.5 M. UAH, in line with a relevant Ukrainian - Russian agreement.

In 2001 during an exercise at the Chauda range in Crimea one of S-200 SAMs accidentally crashed with TU-154 passenger plane, which belonged to Sibir Air Company and which was flying over the Black Sea. The accident prompted the Defense Ministry to ban launching SAMs on Ukraine's soil.

In 2003 Ukrainian units carried out S-300 SAM launches from the Russian ground Ashluk.