Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 15, May 1997

Ukraine to Dismantle ICBMs

In early May, Ukraine announced its intention to dismantle the SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) on its territory. In June 1996, Ukraine completed the transfer of the missiles' warheads to Russia.

The dismantlement programme, announced by Chief of Armed Forces Lt. Oleksandr Zarynaiko on 9 May, is expected to cost $47 million, to be paid by the US out of its Co-operative Threat Reduction (CTR) funds.

One of the chief architects of the CTR programme, Senator Richard Lugar (Republican - Indiana), issued a press release on 12 May expressing his delight at the move:

"Last week's announcement that Ukraine has agreed to destroy a major component of its missile programme takes the process of peaceful disarmament an important step further. ... The recent developments in Ukraine mark a signal success for the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction programme, substantially strengthening the security of each American."

Report: Ukraine agrees to dismantle SS-24 missiles, Armed Forces Newswire Service, 12 May.

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