KHANKALA, May 5 (AVN) - Major-General Alexander Popov is appointed commander of the eastern federal group in Chechnya, a top official of the unified federal group told the Military News Agency.
The appointment was made by an order of the chief-of-staff with the consent of the Defence Minister. Popov superseded Lieutenant-General Sergei Makarov on that post. Popov flew from Moscow to Makhachkala Thursday and is already in his headquarters in Avtury.
This is not a mere shift of command, the group is actually coming into the jurisdiction of the airborne, the source stressed. Vladimir Krymsky, 106th airborne division chief-of-staff, became the group's chief-of-staff.
The group is currently in the epicentre of illegal armed formations' activity in Chechnya, the source added.