Group Of Russian Peacekeepers Leaves Russia For Kosovo

The second 194-strong group of Russian paratroopers flew to Kosovo on Monday in the context of the rotation of the Russian contingent in that Serbian province, RIA Novosti was told by First Deputy Commander of the Russian Air-Borne Troops Lieutenant General Nikolai Staskov. According to him, on board the plane are commissioned and non-commissioned officers and contract soldiers; most of them took part in military actions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other hot spots. As was pointed out by General Staskov, last Friday the first 205-strong group of paratroopers, was airlifted from Russia to Kosovo, and on Sunday 200 servicemen were sent back to Russia. In the course of the rotation of the Russian peacekeepers by five Il-76 planes, altogether 1,200 paratroopers will be landed to Kosovo, and 1,000 peacekeepers will come back. (Part of the contingent's personnel had arrived in Russia earlier.) If weather conditions permit, the Air-Borne Troops command plans to complete the rotation of the Russian peacekeepers on May 3, said General Staskov.

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