MOSCOW. Nov 25 (Interfax-AVN) - The second train carrying units of the Russian Airborne Force left Chechnya early on Thursday and headed for the paratroopers' permanent stationing area in Pskov, chief of the Airborne Force press service Nikolai Bragin told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The second train carries 400 paratroopers, as well as 70 armored vehicles and automobiles," he said.
The first train with paratroopers and hardware of the 76th airborne division will arrive in Pskov early on Friday, Bragin said. The train left Chechnya on November 19 carrying about 400 servicemen, 16 armored vehicles and 50 automobiles.
A total of 230 armored vehicles and 150 automobiles in service with airborne units must be withdrawn from Chechnya, Bragin noted. "Over 2,000 paratroopers of the 76th airborne division were accomplishing combat missions in Chechnya until recently. They all serve under contract," Bragin said.
About 1,000 paratroopers serving under contract want to stay in Chechnya to continue their service in the 42nd motorized rifle division, which is deployed in the republic on a permanent basis, the Airborne Force Staff told Interfax-AVN.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov earlier told reporters, "The withdrawal of tactical groups of the Airborne Force from Chechnya before the end of the year will mean that the Defense Ministry grouping deployed in the Chechen Republic will be reduced by approximately 1,000 servicemen."
The 42nd division will have war-time staffing and will be fully staffed by contract servicemen by the end of the year, Ivanov said. "Hence next year we will be left with only the 42nd division and special forces in Chechnya as far as the Defense Ministry is concerned," he said.