Ukrainian defense minister pays working visit to Russia

Ukrainian defense minister Mikhail Yezhel arrived to Russia on Thursday, reports Russian Ministry of Defense. 

"It is planned that the minister would visit units of Western, Central, and Eastern Military Districts", said official press release of Russian defense ministry. 

At first, Yezhel will visit 5th Infantry Brigade located in Alabino, Moscow region; the base's infrastructure and training process will be shown to the minister. 

Then the Ukrainian military delegation will leave for Far East region. In particular, in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Mr. Yezhel will visit headquarters of Pacific Fleet 16th submarine squadron (based in Rybachiy) and see over nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Georgy Pobedonosets, get acquainted with infrastructure of the naval base which includes not only quarters and military hospital but advanced living residence, food production center, and skating palace. 

The Ukrainian minister plans to meet with the crew of missile cruiser Varyag in Vladivostok, teachers and trainees of Makarov Pacific Fleet Naval Institute, and look over living district "Snegovaya Pad". 

Working phase of the visit will finish in Orenburg where Yezhel will visit presidential cadet corps founded on Sept 1, 2010 on the basis of disbanded air defense school. 

Visit of Ukrainian defense minister will finish on Feb 28.

Ukraine reportedly helping China build aircraft carrier

Hong Kong, Jan. 25 (CNA) Ukraine has been providing China with the technics to build an aircraft carrier, according to the latest issue of the Canada-based Kanwa Asian Defense magazine.

In addition, Ukraine experts are also involved in the restoration of Varyag, an derelict carrier that China bought from Ukraine in 1999, Kanwa said.

"The restoration of Varyag has been completed, and the vessel has been equipped with Ukraine developed power systems, " the monthly said.

China bought the Kuznetsov-class Varyag, minus any power, radar or battle systems, and towed it via the Black Sea to the northern port of Dalian under the pretext of transforming it into a tourism attraction.

But many military observers believed that China is turning Varyag into a training ground for its pilots on the soon-to-be established fighter fleets on the carrier.

Andri Pinkov, founder and editor-of-chief of the monthly, said that Ukraine also helped China's Harbin boiler plant manufacture military boilers and steam machines as part of efforts to adopt the "catapult assisted take off and arrested recovery system" that is used by Russian carrier aircraft.