Russia: Missile-Launchers Stolen from Naval Arsenal

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

(11:09 AM Moscow time) (07:09 GMT)

The Associated Press

MOSCOW, Russia -- AP
At least eight shoulder-fired missile launchers have been stolen from a naval arsenal, the Interfax news agency quoted a military official as saying Tuesday.

The Strela missile launchers were stolen from an arsenal in Bolshiye Izhory, outside St. Petersburg, Leningrad Military District prosecutor Igor Lebed was quoted as saying.

The report did not specify when the theft took place or how thieves may have gained access to the weapons. Defense Ministry officials could not be reached for clarification.

Shoulder-fired missiles have been used by insurgents in Russia's separatist region of Chechnya to shoot down Russian helicopters, including three that were shot down last year near the main Russian military base in Chechnya.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov was quoted as saying last month that a Russian Strela system was used to fire missiles that just missed an Israeli charter plane after it took off from Mombasa, Kenya, last November with 271 people on board. U.S. officials believe al-Qaida launched the attack.
(Source: The Russia Journal)
2003 © The Associated Press.

Dan