You're reading: Ukrainian inspection mission to arrive at Russia’s Kubinka airfield on Thursday

An international mission comprised of 16 Ukrainian inspectors, one inspector from the United States and another one from Canada will arrive at the Kubinka airfield near Moscow on Thursday for conducting a special observation flight above Russia, Russian National Nuclear Threat Reduction Center head Sergei Ryzhkov told reporters.

“Treaty procedures will be complied with upon the arrival of the Ukrainian
aircraft at the Kubinka airfield today. Consistent with the Open Skies Treaty,
the inspectors have no more than 96 hours to perform the observation flight,”
Ryzhkov said.

Ukraine applied for conducting the special Open Skies mission in Russia on
March 17-21 at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on
March 11, 2014.

“Bearing in mind that allocations have not been made for the extra mission in
Russia and the complex financial and economic situation in Ukraine, we offered
that the Ukrainian mission cover the expenditures (catering and accommodation of
the mission personnel, jet fuel and land services rendered to the observation
aircraft) before the plane’s arrival at the Kubinka Airport on prices in effect
for all member states of the Open Skies Treaty,” Ryzhkov said.

“Ukraine gave an affirmative answer but made the payment only on March 19,
2014,” he indicated.

“Therefore, the Ukrainian side delayed the arrival at the Kubinka airfield
until March 20. The mission consists of 16 representatives of Ukraine, one of
the United States and one of Canada,” Ryzhkov continued.

Russian specialists will check the Antonov An-30B observation aircraft for
its international certification, he said.

“During the flight along the approved route, Russian experts will stay aboard
to control the strict compliance with the flight parameters and the use of
observation equipment allowed by the Treaty,” he said.

Observation flight materials will be processed and a copy will be made for
the inspected country in Kubinka, he added.