RUSSIA TRANSFERRING CRIMEAN NAVAL AIR FACILITIES TO UKRAINE?

Naval Command sources in Moscow told Interfax August 9 thatthe Black Sea Fleet has been ordered to disband the flight controlcenter at Gvardeiskoe naval airport near Simferopol, and to transferDonuzlav naval airport to Ukraine’s navy. Both measures are tobe completed by October, according to the Moscow sources. Thelatter order was also reported and then denied last month. Itsultimate status is linked to that of Donuzlav naval base, reserveheadquarters of the Black Sea Fleet. Some Russian officials wouldlike to offer it to Ukraine as a quid pro quo for exclusive Russianbasing rights in the much larger Sevastopol naval base, whileother Russian officials are reluctant to part with the more up-to-dateDonuzlav base.

Finances Seen as Decisive for Black Sea Fleet’s Fate.