NAVY CHIEF TO GET THE AXE.

That shake-up appears already to have gotten underway in Russia’s navy. An unnamed Defense Ministry source reports that Adm. Feliks Gromov, who has headed the Russian navy since August 1992, is to be replaced before the middle of next month. Gromov will not reach the mandatory retirement age of 60 until September. The navy has deteriorated under Gromov’s leadership, chiefly because of funding shortfalls that were beyond his control. His departure will add to the personnel turmoil in the service’s senior ranks. Gromov’s senior deputy, Adm. Igor Kasatonov, is rumored to be in line for a deputy defense minister’s post that would put him in charge of military discipline and education. The current chief of the Navy Main Staff, Adm. Igor Khmelnov, is under investigation for allegedly misusing his authority when he headed the Pacific Fleet. (Moskovsky komsomolets, March 11)

Russian, Ukrainian Exports Threatened by Protectionism.