Russian newspaper Kommersant
Novemebr 29
total of 20 heavily-laden Il-76's belonging to Russia's
Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Eliminating the
Consequences of Natural Disasters landed at Tuzel air base near Tashkent
yesterday and then headed for Bagram air base near Kabul. Uzbek aircraft
technicians claimed that some aircraft contained only servicemen. In the
opinion of the Uzbek military, two Russian airborne regiments with full
armament were travelling to Afghanistan. Meanwhile the air base is awaiting
the arrival of at least another 10 military transports from Russia.
By agreement with Uzbekistan, Tuzel air base is used by the Russian Emergencies Ministry as a "jumping-off point" - aircraft are refuelled here. Kommersant was told by a spokesman for the Uzbekistan Emergencies Ministry that, under this agreement, Russian transports are not inspected - the Russian side simply informs Tashkent what freight they are carrying. Two days ago when the Russian Emergencies Ministry was moving equipment and hardware via Uzbekistan for the hospital in Kabul, Moscow provided the Uzbek authorities with a full report on the freight. On Wednesday the bulk of the freight was not declared. But people in Tashkent assumed that the aircraft were carrying servicemen and combat hardware.
A Kommersant correspondent was told by aircraft technicians servicing the aircraft that several aircraft at least carried servicemen and, presumably Airborne Troops, alone. According to the Uzbek military, no fewer than two airborne regiments with full armament have passed through Tuzel air base. The fact that there was still a large number of fuel tankers at the airfield indicates that the air base was preparing to receive at least another 10 military transports. However, the Russian Defence Ministry has failed to confirm the report of Russian Airborne Troops being sent to Afghanistan. The ministry claims that construction materials for the Russian Federation embassy building and military construction personnel have been moved to Kabul.