Turning the pages back...

May 28, 1997

Eight years ago, on May 28, 1997, the prime ministers of Ukraine and Russia signed a historic accord on the division of the Black Sea Fleet after five years of discussions, disagreements and controversy.

The agreement gave Russia a 20-year lease on two of the four bays in the city of Sevastopol, located on the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine, with a five-year option for renewal by permission of Ukraine. Russian ships and troops were to be stationed at bases in Sevastopol Bay and Quarantine Bay. Ukraine's ships were to be kept in Striletskyi Bay, while Southern Bay was to be de-militarized.

The Russian Navy was to have use of the test range at Feodosia, the Hvardiiskyi Aerodrome and the Yalta Sanitorium, a communications station and a rocket fuel depot. Russia agreed to post no more than 25,000 military personnel at the bases, to limit Russian armor to 132 vehicles, artillery to 24 pieces with a caliber over 100 mm. and aircraft to 22.

Source: "Ukrainian, Russian PMs sign pact on Black Sea Fleet," by Roman Woronowycz, Kyiv Press Bureau, The Ukrainian Weekly, June 1, 1997, Vol. LXV, No. 22.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 22, 2005, No. 21, Vol. LXXIII

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