Key Russian Army Units Reportedly Placed on Alert
stratfor.com
<< Citing a "highly positioned source at the Defense Ministry," the Russian newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda" reported Monday that commanders of the Tamanskaya and Kantemirovskaya Divisions and the Tyoplyi Stan Brigade, all stationed near Moscow, as well as the Tula, Ryazan, and Tver Divisions, have been ordered to "prepare themselves for extraordinary situations." Officers have reportedly had their leaves canceled, and the units have been ordered to increase their guard on ammunition, food, and fuel stockpiles. Komsomolskaya Pravda also reported that acting Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev had assured Russian President Boris Yeltsin of the troops' loyalty during a recent meeting. Additionally, the newspaper reported that the Interior Ministry had been ordered to prepare to "act under extraordinary circumstances" in Moscow, should civil unrest arise. Finally, the newspaper reported that Russia's Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB, is monitoring the situation in Moscow and the Far East for any signs of destabilization. >>
|
