Ukraine completes disposal of Soviet-era intercontinental ballistic missiles
The routine disposal of outdated, Soviet manufactured PC-22 (SS-24) intercontinental ballistic missiles has been completed in Ukraine by the State enterprise SPA (Scientific Production Association). The Pavlograd Chemical Plant (PCP) has fully completed the disposal of the second stages of the rockets, as was reported on 28 October during a press conference by the Director General of the enterprise, Leonid Shyman.
According to him, the enterprise has disposed of 108, or 67% of the stages of the outdated РС-22 missiles, from the total number of missiles in Ukraine. They have disposed of 54 third stage rockets, 54 second stage rockets, and as a pilot project, one first stage rocket.
Currently, as Leonid Shyman stated, 54 first stage rockets which need to be disposed of are still stored at the facility.
“We have completed the disposal of the 54th second stage rocket. Therefore, 109 rocket stages have been disposed of, from the 163 we received in order to dispose of solid rocket fuel,” the Director General noted.
According to him, the disposal of solid-fuel missiles at PCP has been on-going since 2004. Funding from the State budget has been inconsistent over the last few years, only allocating approximately 50% of needed funds.
In order to fully complete the disposal, Shyman says, the enterprise needs complete production capacities, at that time, it could be implemented within two years. If the State does not find funds for completion, the process of disposal will still continue but at a slower rate. At this rate, the disposal of missile bodies and missile fuel would be fully completed in 4-5 years.
In the early 90’s, Ukraine made a commitment to eliminate all strategic offensive weapons on its territory which it inherited from the Soviet Union including intercontinental ballistic missiles. 5,000 tons of solid rocket fuel had to be disposed of. The Pavlograd Chemical Plant, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, was chosen to complete this task.
Now the empty bodies of ballistic missiles and missile fuel which remain from the Soviet era are being disposed at the Pavlograd Chemical Plant. The project is partially financed by the U.S.A. The plant assures that the disposal is entirely safe for the environment.