Russia sends more than 75 planes with troops and military equipment to Kazakhstan

The Russian Defense Ministry has dispatched more than 75 military transport aircraft with the Russian units of the “peace contingent”Of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance that brings together six former Soviet republics, the military entity reported.

“The air group consisting of more than 70 Il-76 and 5 An-124 aircraft transports the Russian part of the CSTO peace contingent to Kazakhstan during the last day“Said in a statement the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Russia, Major General Ígor Konashenkov.

Of these, the Ministry indicated, 9 Il-76 planes landed at the Almaty airport, which was occupied by protesters for several hours on January 5 and currently does not receive civil flights.

According to the Russian high ranking military officer, the aircraft of the Russian Military Air Transport Force also carry units from Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, member countries of the OTSC.

“The Russian peacekeepers are made up of units from the 45th Brigade of special troops, the 98th Division of paratroopers and the 31st Brigade, all of the Russian Airborne Troops.“, He indicated, noting that all the Russian military participating in the mission”they have special training and have real combat experience ”.

The international mission in Kazakhstan will be commanded by the commander of the Russian Airborne Troops, Colonel General Andrei Serdiukov, according to the Defense Ministry spokesman.

Konashenkov indicated that the Russian military that arrived in Kazakhstan “immediately assumed the fulfillment of their missions”.

“At the moment the Almaty airport is fully under the control of our forces and the Kazakhstan police”, He specified, noting that the Russian soldiers also guarantee the security of the General Consulate of Russia in this city and other important facilities.

The President of Kazakhstan, Kasim-Yomart Tokayev, requested this Wednesday support to the OTSC before the worsening of the situation in the Central Asian nation as a result of the intense protests that led to riots, with the taking of government headquarters in several cities, and especially intense in Almaty.