Rc-20 Missile Launch Silo Liquidated In Altai

Thirty RS-20 missiles launch silos of the disbanded Aleysk division of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces have been liquidated in Altai. Yury Chernega, the division commander, said that the liquidation has been carried out in accordance with the international treaty SALT-1. On Friday, Mr. Chernega reported to his superiors on "the factual completion of the silos' liquidation." According to Mr. Chernega, the first launch silo was eliminated on November 2, 2000 and the last one on November 9, 2001. Missiles were taken out of the silos and defueled a long time ago. Nuclear warheads from the missiles were put into depositories. The Russian Industrial Conversion Technologies was the company in charge of the work to liquidate the silos. It had successful experience with similar projects in the Kostroma Region and Valdai. Mr. Chernega has also said that at the moment work to recultivate land, which was formerly used for silos, is underway in Topchikhino, Ust-Pristansky, and Shipunovsky districts of the Altay Territory. The work will be over by the end of the year.