MOSCOW. April 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian Interior Ministry Troops Commander Sergei Popkov will visit Russia in the second half of April, Colonel Vasily Panchenkov, chief of the press bureau of the Russian Interior Ministry troops, told Interfax- Military News Agency on Tuesday.
Popkov was invited to Russia by Colonel General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, commander of the Russian Interior Ministry troops and deputy interior minister. During the meeting Popkov and Tikhomirov will study combat training of Russian and Ukrainian Interior Ministry troops, system of training officers as well as logistics and technical support to the troops.
The Ukrainian official will also visit several military units, educational establishments and special purpose units of the Interior Ministry troops.
The Russian Interior Ministry troops amount to some 200,000 people and they are planned to be refused at 20,000 by 2003 and at 17,000 by 2005. At the same time the reduction will primarily concern non-combat units.
The basis for reformed troops will be the 46th separate operational purpose brigade permanently stationed in Chechnya.