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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Ukrainian tanks on ship held by pirates were destined for southern Sudan

MOSCOW — Ukraine has been contracted to supply T-72 main battle tanks to Sudan.

Russian sources said the Ukrainian state-owned arms agency Ukrspetsexport has sold nearly 70 T-72 MBTs to the autonomous region of southern Sudan. The sources said the MBT deliveries to Sudan, under international sanctions, were routed through Kenya.

In September, a Ukrainian ship, Faina, was captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The ship contained 33 T-72s, which Ukraine said was destined for Kenya, Middle East Newsline reported.

But the sources, in an assertion confirmed by the U.S. military, said most of the T-72s were actually meant for southern Sudan while several platforms were destined for Kenya. Ukraine has denied selling weapons to southern Sudan.

"The T-72s have been supplied with tanks shells, spare parts and training," an industry source said.

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Meanwhile, the pirates still hold Ukrainian Faina and have lowered the ransom from $20 million to $8 million according to a Russian media report.

Russia's media said the T-72 sale to Sudan was part of expanded arms exports by Kiev. They said Ukrspetsexport, under the direct authority of President Viktor Yushchenko, has been selling weapons to rivals of Russia, including Georgia.

The sources said Faina contained 33 modernized T-72M1 and T72-M1K MBTs and 1,000 tons of ammunition. Ukraine was also said to have shipped six ZU-23 anti-aircraft defense systems as well as 150 RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launchers to southern Sudan.

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