Informational – analytic review of defense news by Defense and Security Policy Center
1. National Defence Capability: amount of financing for UAF in 2010
In order to support MoD of the Ukraine with its finance requirements, the draft of the Law of Ukraine "On the State budget of Ukraine in 2010" prescribes allocation of 13 036 bln UAH to a military budget that to be divided on general fund some 8 279 bln UAH and 4 757 bln UAH as special part of it.
Comment: Based on MoD financial estimate a limit of recourses required for UAF in next year must be at least 20 bln UAH, so this will allow an implementing of major assigned tasks and ensure a vital activity of Armed Forces.
Tentative analysis got wise to that UAF will have to abandon its development desires for years and embrace a “survival” strategy. Consequently, about 97,35% of the general fund will have been consumed by remuneration, utility bills and energy power costs, and only 2,65% to be invested for the Armed Forces development. The general fund has no anticipated expenses for procurement, modernization, renewal and maintenance of military equipment at all.
2. Combat Training: 6th Army Corps and Air Command “South” joint command and staff exercise
September 15, 2009 6th Army Corps of Ground forces and Air Command “South” of the UAF commenced joint command and staff exercise.
Comment: The training has involved the Army Corps and Air Command HQs, their subunits staffs, MP unit and military commissariats. The exercise is being conducted under auspices of Gen I. Svida, C-in-C of the UAF Ground forces.
The exercise proceeds through two phases. During the first part of it an operational planning for application of Army Corps (as part of JTF) has been practiced. On the second stage command and control workouts were played, particularly during the troops gathering and conduct of operations. Along with second phase 25 independent Airborne Bde was carrying out rapid piggyback movement from its home base (in Dnepropetrovsk) to Starokrimskiy training area (in Crimea) where has conducted a tactical troop exercise with live firing. The battle group of 480 soldiers from 2nd para Bn, AD Coy, Eng, NBC and MP Plts, Med personnel, over 45 units of armored vehicles and 33 soft skin trucks were engaged in the exercise (МoD 15.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
3. Peacekeeping: mobile checkpoint training
Peacemakers of Ukrainian component of “UkrPolBat” took part in the vehicle checkpoint training (VCP) in the AOR of multinational tactical group “East” in Kosovo.
Comment: Within “Sunburst Augustus” operation Ukrainian and Polish peacemakers deployed 17 VCPs, intended to monitor a situation in the mission area and for demonstration of presence of forces. The training was preplanned and took place in interaction with Greek military they have also set up two VCPs.
Training was carried out all over the multinational tactical group “East” AOR. The broad net of mobile checkpoints was established on all main roads throughout that part of Kosovo. The exercise purpose was to gain experience from the training in order to act properly in case of aggravation the social and political situation. Main tasks were: roads and terrain Recce, examine of VCP deployment points, evacuation routes, explore the likely helicopters landing spots (МoD 16.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
4. Peace keeping: on-board interpreters course completion
On Sepember 18, 2009 the Multinational Staff officer Center of the National academy of Defence of Ukraine accomplished on-board interpreter course. Junior officers, who have successfully done the studying, qualify themselves for a job in the UN Mission in Liberia, as part of 56th independent helicopter detachment.
Comment: Over 20 junior officers completed their specific training for a new job. A course included the study of fundamental UN principles of peace duilding, legal aspects of international peacekeeping organizations, specific mission and country study, UNMIL structure and tasks of Ukrainian peacekeeping unit. Special study had also emphasized to an air space structure, helicopter flights rules and specific, radio training, national regulation for use the air space, control signal during aiming, targeting and landing (МoD 18.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
5. Multinational training: tactical exercise without troops (TEWT) “Evaluation – 2009”
Combined Ukrainian-American TEWT “Evaluation – 2009” was conducted from 14 to 19 Sept 2009, in the base of International Peacekeeping and Security Centre outside Lviv city.
Comment: TEWT “Evaluation – 2009” has been a successor of “Rapid Trident” exercise series. As of now the absence of a legal ground of foreign troops admittance to a territory of Ukraine for participating in the exercise stipulated a reshaping the format of the Ukrainian-American exercise “Rapid Trident” into “Evaluation – 2009” and set up a conditions for participation of those UAF units which are about to carry out self-evaluation within the NATO Concept of Operational Capabilities (МoD 14.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
400 militaries of 8th independent Air Mobile Regt, 24th independent Mech Bde, 95th Independent Air Mobile Bde, 12th Eng Regt, NBC Bn, 3rd Army Aviation Regt and UAF Army Academy have participated the TEWT. Military experts from USA, 9 representatives from the NATO HQs and officers from UK and Germany were also participating.
During exercise experts conducted the NATO 1st level evaluation have examined NBC and Eng Coys. The Ukrainian officers checked and carried out a 1st level of self-evaluation of Bn HQ and Coy from 13th Air Mobile Bn of 95th Independent Air Mobile Bde (МoD 14.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
6. Multinational training: preparation for “Active efforts” operation
From 15 to 17 Sept 2009 trial trip of Ukrainian Navy corvette “Ternopil'” has been executed. The trial was within the preparation stage for participating at the NATO counterterrorism operation “Active efforts” in Mediterranean.
Comment: During tour, the vessel crew tested its maneuverability, checked ship duty roster, composition of watch shifts, conducted ship-damage control and singe ship embattle training.
Heaving the anchor and sailing off from the port of Sevastopol is being planned for October 15, 2009 then Ternopil'” will steam to Mediterranean in order to proceed to counterterrorism operation “Active efforts” (МoD 15-17.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
The NATO counterterrorism operation “Active efforts” has been going from October 6, 2001 with purpose to fight terrorism in Mediterranean water zone by interdiction of illegal weapon sea-traffic, prevention an illegal people transit by using commercial transports. Major tasks are: patrolling and control over sea traffic in the area of operation.
Ukraine is the second nation of non-NATO members (after Russia Federation) who joined the operation. In October - November 2006 corvette “Ternopil'” performed its first 28-days Mediterranean cruise, during which had been preparing for the participating in the “Active efforts”. In the period of May - July 2007 ship took an active part in the operation. In November - December 2007 a corvette “Lutsk” was engaged to the operation, in May - July 2008 it was frigate “Hetman Sagaydachniy” involved and lately, in November - December 2008 corvette “Ternopil'” was again active.
7. Ukraine-NATO: the NATO April 2008 Bucharest summit resolutions remain effective
September 18, 2009 in Brussels the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his first (during this appointment) public appearance has asserted that the NATO adheres to decisions were accepted on Bucharest Summit in 2008, concerning a further cooperation between the NATO and Ukraine.
Comment: the NATO Secretary General expressed his great conviction, that NATO and EU enlargement can cause no threats for Russia safety. Opposite, even more stable and wealthy Europe might contribute to Russia security.
Answering a question, whether NATO is going to continue "open door policy" towards Ukraine and Georgia, Anders Fogh Rasmussen noted: "It’s entirely clear, that both countries must reach necessary criteria. We all know that they did not yet attain it at the present stage. So, ministers of foreign affairs of the NATO nations had adopted a format, within which we initiated a practical collaboration with Georgia and Ukraine and the purpose of which is reformation of their military sector. It’s current status of businesses. Certainly, it would now be too early to have any foresights done, regarding to a future development. But in this case, I want to underline that we adhere to the decision accepted on a Summit in Bucharest in 2008 year" (UkrInform, 18.09.09, www.ukrinform.ua).
8. International cooperation: signing of a contract for disposal of rocket fuel components
On 16 Sept 2009, the OSCE Secretary General, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine V. Ivaschenko signed a contract today with a Russian consortium that allows for the safe disposal of 3,168 metric ton of mélange, a highly toxic liquid rocket fuel component stored in rusting containers at six storage depots in Ukraine.
Comment: the OSCE Secretary General noted that the executing phase will begin in the early November 2009 and will have been lasting for year. The contractor will extract 3.168 tons of melange and transport it from Ukraine to specialized chemical plants in Russia, where it will be disposed. The noxious substance to be transported by six special trains and then converted into chemical products with industrial use. Project actions will be monitored in compliance with the international standards through the specially designed by OSCE quality control program. (МoD 16.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
As part of USSR legacy Ukraine inherited almost 16.7 thousand tons of surpluses and obsolete components of rocket fuel, majority of which is Mélange type (Mélange-20f, Mélange-20i, Mélange-20k, Mélange-27i, Mélange-27p). Currently, 16 339,36 tons of Mélange stockpiled on 6 rocket fuel depots. It’s planned to destroy the rocket fuel components from the following areas: Kalinivka (Vinnitsa region) – 0.948 thousand ton, Tsenzhiv (Ivano-Frankovsk region) - 2.2 thousand ton, Radekhiv (Lviv area) – over 2.9 thousand ton, Shevchenkove (Kharkov region) – more than 4.2 thousand ton, Bila Tserkva (Kiev region) – over 1.3 thousand ton and Lyubashivka (Odessa region) – over 3 thousand ton.
9. International cooperation: visit to Air Operational Centre of the USA Air Component Command in Europe
On 19 Sept 2009 Ukrainian Air Force delegation completed its visit to Air Operational Center of the USA Air Component Command in Europe, located on “Ramstein” Air Force base.
Comment: During visit, sides have discussed a formation of interoperable with NATO assets the Air Component of Ukrainian Joint Rapid Reaction Force, its further equipment and combat training.
The primary objective of meeting was to learn a structure, equipment and main tasks of Air Operational Center, planning process, C2 procedures and application of the Air Component.
Ukrainian team got familiar with countermeasures taken by the Air Component Command in reacting on airspace intrusion, how it’s coordinated within multinational command structure, rescue of hijacked commercial aircraft and the process of selecting the personnel to the Air Operational Center (МoD 18.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
Copyright © Defense and Security Policy Center
1. National Defence Capability: amount of financing for UAF in 2010
In order to support MoD of the Ukraine with its finance requirements, the draft of the Law of Ukraine "On the State budget of Ukraine in 2010" prescribes allocation of 13 036 bln UAH to a military budget that to be divided on general fund some 8 279 bln UAH and 4 757 bln UAH as special part of it.
Comment: Based on MoD financial estimate a limit of recourses required for UAF in next year must be at least 20 bln UAH, so this will allow an implementing of major assigned tasks and ensure a vital activity of Armed Forces.
Tentative analysis got wise to that UAF will have to abandon its development desires for years and embrace a “survival” strategy. Consequently, about 97,35% of the general fund will have been consumed by remuneration, utility bills and energy power costs, and only 2,65% to be invested for the Armed Forces development. The general fund has no anticipated expenses for procurement, modernization, renewal and maintenance of military equipment at all.
2. Combat Training: 6th Army Corps and Air Command “South” joint command and staff exercise
September 15, 2009 6th Army Corps of Ground forces and Air Command “South” of the UAF commenced joint command and staff exercise.
Comment: The training has involved the Army Corps and Air Command HQs, their subunits staffs, MP unit and military commissariats. The exercise is being conducted under auspices of Gen I. Svida, C-in-C of the UAF Ground forces.
The exercise proceeds through two phases. During the first part of it an operational planning for application of Army Corps (as part of JTF) has been practiced. On the second stage command and control workouts were played, particularly during the troops gathering and conduct of operations. Along with second phase 25 independent Airborne Bde was carrying out rapid piggyback movement from its home base (in Dnepropetrovsk) to Starokrimskiy training area (in Crimea) where has conducted a tactical troop exercise with live firing. The battle group of 480 soldiers from 2nd para Bn, AD Coy, Eng, NBC and MP Plts, Med personnel, over 45 units of armored vehicles and 33 soft skin trucks were engaged in the exercise (МoD 15.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
3. Peacekeeping: mobile checkpoint training
Peacemakers of Ukrainian component of “UkrPolBat” took part in the vehicle checkpoint training (VCP) in the AOR of multinational tactical group “East” in Kosovo.
Comment: Within “Sunburst Augustus” operation Ukrainian and Polish peacemakers deployed 17 VCPs, intended to monitor a situation in the mission area and for demonstration of presence of forces. The training was preplanned and took place in interaction with Greek military they have also set up two VCPs.
Training was carried out all over the multinational tactical group “East” AOR. The broad net of mobile checkpoints was established on all main roads throughout that part of Kosovo. The exercise purpose was to gain experience from the training in order to act properly in case of aggravation the social and political situation. Main tasks were: roads and terrain Recce, examine of VCP deployment points, evacuation routes, explore the likely helicopters landing spots (МoD 16.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
4. Peace keeping: on-board interpreters course completion
On Sepember 18, 2009 the Multinational Staff officer Center of the National academy of Defence of Ukraine accomplished on-board interpreter course. Junior officers, who have successfully done the studying, qualify themselves for a job in the UN Mission in Liberia, as part of 56th independent helicopter detachment.
Comment: Over 20 junior officers completed their specific training for a new job. A course included the study of fundamental UN principles of peace duilding, legal aspects of international peacekeeping organizations, specific mission and country study, UNMIL structure and tasks of Ukrainian peacekeeping unit. Special study had also emphasized to an air space structure, helicopter flights rules and specific, radio training, national regulation for use the air space, control signal during aiming, targeting and landing (МoD 18.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
5. Multinational training: tactical exercise without troops (TEWT) “Evaluation – 2009”
Combined Ukrainian-American TEWT “Evaluation – 2009” was conducted from 14 to 19 Sept 2009, in the base of International Peacekeeping and Security Centre outside Lviv city.
Comment: TEWT “Evaluation – 2009” has been a successor of “Rapid Trident” exercise series. As of now the absence of a legal ground of foreign troops admittance to a territory of Ukraine for participating in the exercise stipulated a reshaping the format of the Ukrainian-American exercise “Rapid Trident” into “Evaluation – 2009” and set up a conditions for participation of those UAF units which are about to carry out self-evaluation within the NATO Concept of Operational Capabilities (МoD 14.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
400 militaries of 8th independent Air Mobile Regt, 24th independent Mech Bde, 95th Independent Air Mobile Bde, 12th Eng Regt, NBC Bn, 3rd Army Aviation Regt and UAF Army Academy have participated the TEWT. Military experts from USA, 9 representatives from the NATO HQs and officers from UK and Germany were also participating.
During exercise experts conducted the NATO 1st level evaluation have examined NBC and Eng Coys. The Ukrainian officers checked and carried out a 1st level of self-evaluation of Bn HQ and Coy from 13th Air Mobile Bn of 95th Independent Air Mobile Bde (МoD 14.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
6. Multinational training: preparation for “Active efforts” operation
From 15 to 17 Sept 2009 trial trip of Ukrainian Navy corvette “Ternopil'” has been executed. The trial was within the preparation stage for participating at the NATO counterterrorism operation “Active efforts” in Mediterranean.
Comment: During tour, the vessel crew tested its maneuverability, checked ship duty roster, composition of watch shifts, conducted ship-damage control and singe ship embattle training.
Heaving the anchor and sailing off from the port of Sevastopol is being planned for October 15, 2009 then Ternopil'” will steam to Mediterranean in order to proceed to counterterrorism operation “Active efforts” (МoD 15-17.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
The NATO counterterrorism operation “Active efforts” has been going from October 6, 2001 with purpose to fight terrorism in Mediterranean water zone by interdiction of illegal weapon sea-traffic, prevention an illegal people transit by using commercial transports. Major tasks are: patrolling and control over sea traffic in the area of operation.
Ukraine is the second nation of non-NATO members (after Russia Federation) who joined the operation. In October - November 2006 corvette “Ternopil'” performed its first 28-days Mediterranean cruise, during which had been preparing for the participating in the “Active efforts”. In the period of May - July 2007 ship took an active part in the operation. In November - December 2007 a corvette “Lutsk” was engaged to the operation, in May - July 2008 it was frigate “Hetman Sagaydachniy” involved and lately, in November - December 2008 corvette “Ternopil'” was again active.
7. Ukraine-NATO: the NATO April 2008 Bucharest summit resolutions remain effective
September 18, 2009 in Brussels the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his first (during this appointment) public appearance has asserted that the NATO adheres to decisions were accepted on Bucharest Summit in 2008, concerning a further cooperation between the NATO and Ukraine.
Comment: the NATO Secretary General expressed his great conviction, that NATO and EU enlargement can cause no threats for Russia safety. Opposite, even more stable and wealthy Europe might contribute to Russia security.
Answering a question, whether NATO is going to continue "open door policy" towards Ukraine and Georgia, Anders Fogh Rasmussen noted: "It’s entirely clear, that both countries must reach necessary criteria. We all know that they did not yet attain it at the present stage. So, ministers of foreign affairs of the NATO nations had adopted a format, within which we initiated a practical collaboration with Georgia and Ukraine and the purpose of which is reformation of their military sector. It’s current status of businesses. Certainly, it would now be too early to have any foresights done, regarding to a future development. But in this case, I want to underline that we adhere to the decision accepted on a Summit in Bucharest in 2008 year" (UkrInform, 18.09.09, www.ukrinform.ua).
8. International cooperation: signing of a contract for disposal of rocket fuel components
On 16 Sept 2009, the OSCE Secretary General, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine V. Ivaschenko signed a contract today with a Russian consortium that allows for the safe disposal of 3,168 metric ton of mélange, a highly toxic liquid rocket fuel component stored in rusting containers at six storage depots in Ukraine.
Comment: the OSCE Secretary General noted that the executing phase will begin in the early November 2009 and will have been lasting for year. The contractor will extract 3.168 tons of melange and transport it from Ukraine to specialized chemical plants in Russia, where it will be disposed. The noxious substance to be transported by six special trains and then converted into chemical products with industrial use. Project actions will be monitored in compliance with the international standards through the specially designed by OSCE quality control program. (МoD 16.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
As part of USSR legacy Ukraine inherited almost 16.7 thousand tons of surpluses and obsolete components of rocket fuel, majority of which is Mélange type (Mélange-20f, Mélange-20i, Mélange-20k, Mélange-27i, Mélange-27p). Currently, 16 339,36 tons of Mélange stockpiled on 6 rocket fuel depots. It’s planned to destroy the rocket fuel components from the following areas: Kalinivka (Vinnitsa region) – 0.948 thousand ton, Tsenzhiv (Ivano-Frankovsk region) - 2.2 thousand ton, Radekhiv (Lviv area) – over 2.9 thousand ton, Shevchenkove (Kharkov region) – more than 4.2 thousand ton, Bila Tserkva (Kiev region) – over 1.3 thousand ton and Lyubashivka (Odessa region) – over 3 thousand ton.
9. International cooperation: visit to Air Operational Centre of the USA Air Component Command in Europe
On 19 Sept 2009 Ukrainian Air Force delegation completed its visit to Air Operational Center of the USA Air Component Command in Europe, located on “Ramstein” Air Force base.
Comment: During visit, sides have discussed a formation of interoperable with NATO assets the Air Component of Ukrainian Joint Rapid Reaction Force, its further equipment and combat training.
The primary objective of meeting was to learn a structure, equipment and main tasks of Air Operational Center, planning process, C2 procedures and application of the Air Component.
Ukrainian team got familiar with countermeasures taken by the Air Component Command in reacting on airspace intrusion, how it’s coordinated within multinational command structure, rescue of hijacked commercial aircraft and the process of selecting the personnel to the Air Operational Center (МoD 18.09.09, www.mil.gov.ua).
Copyright © Defense and Security Policy Center
