Serdiukov inspected BSF airfield in Sevastopol

22.10.2010 Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov visited Black Sea Fleet (BSF) airfield located at Khersones Cape, Sevastopol; the visit was held Wed evening after the session of CIS defense ministers' council.

The inspection was conducted without press, so the military report nothing about the purpose of Serdiukov's visit.

We recall that mayor of Sevastopol Valery Saratov previously said in the interview to New Region that Ukraine had offered Russia to consider the possibility of joint use of idle lands leased by Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

Among other objects, Saratov mentioned the airfield at Khersones Cape.

"According to Kharkov agreements, Russia leases the land until 2042. That is a very long period. Today, Russia leases 3300 hectares of Ukraine's lands. To be honest, this area corresponds to formerly mighty Soviet BSF which used to be 10 times larger than the current one. Obviously, Russia does not need such vast areas, but has already paid for them. And I like both parties to come to terms in this regional development issues. Example, there are idle and useless 24th and 54th BSF plants in elite site of the city, just at the entrance to Sevastopol harbor. Matiushenko harbor is opposite, it is also Russian territory. There are only rusty barrels. Then Khersones airfield and so forth. The main thing is to understand that such issues can be settled only amicably", said the Sevastopol mayor.