MOSCOW. June 15 (Interfax-AVN) - Some 150 families of troops serving at Russia's Kant air base in Kyrgyzstan were flown to Yekaterinburg in central Russia on Wednesday, Interfax-AVN was told by the Russian Defense Ministry.
"These are mainly the wives and children of servicemen who are leaving for their summer holidays and also those who wished to leave Kyrgyzstan due to the aggravation of the situation," a ministry spokesman said.
"The situation at the Russian air base is stable and under control of the command," he said.
A ministry official said on Wednesday that troops at the base "carried out training tasks involving flights" in line with the training program.
Earlier a Russian military source told Interfax-AVN that three Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo aircraft landed at Kant on Sunday delivering a reinforced battalion of the 31st landing brigade of the Russian Airborne Force.
"The task of the battalion is to guard Russian military facilities and guarantee the security of Russian servicemen and their families," he said.
He reminded Interfax that since last April two companies of paratroopers have been based at the Kant base.
The source added that the battalion "was promptly transferred to Kant due to the aggravation of the situation in southern Kyrgyzstan, numerous casualties and rioting."
"The paratroopers are armed with their regular small weapons and ammunition, and have the necessary food supplies," the source said.
Kant air base is a military airdrome in Chuya region which Russia has been using under agreement. Kant is the home of air base number 999 which is part of the fifth Air Force and Air Defense Army.
260 Russian officers and 150 conscripts and contract servicemen are based at the facility. The air fleet at their disposal consists of Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, Su-25 low attack aircraft, Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft, Mil Mi-8 helicopters and L-39 trainers.
Earlier a high-ranking Russian military source told Interfax-AVN that personnel at Kant would not play a part in restoring order in areas in southern Kyrgyzstan hit by ethnic violence