ARMY DEMANDS ALLOWANCES.

Following a meeting with military leaders, Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin yesterday ordered the Finance Ministry to quickly resolve a "crisis situation" developing in the army and other "power ministries" over non-payments of allowances, pensions, and other social benefits. Chernomyrdin’s action came as an unnamed senior general staff officer told the press that delays in government funding for such benefits were creating an extremely tense situation in the army. Almost no Russian soldiers have received their money for June, and many received nothing in May, he said. The situation has reportedly reached the point that military academies are sending cadets home for extended vacations because they can no longer afford to feed or train them, while groups of soldiers are preparing to launch legal proceedings to ensure they receive payments spelled out in their contracts. (Interfax, July 11)

Top Ukrainian Military; Security Officials Appointed.