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Ukraine mulls missile defense system deployment: official

Xinhua, May 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Ukrainian government is considering deploying missile defense systems in the country, said Oleksandr Turchynov, head of the country's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), on Wednesday.

"I don't rule out that we will be forced to hold consultations over deploying missile defense systems in the Ukrainian territory to protect the country against a nuclear threat," Turchynov was quoted by the NSDC press service as saying.

Ukraine has to strengthen its defense capabilities as it is feeling threatened by Russia, Turchynov said, accusing Moscow of placing nuclear weapons in Crimea after annexation in March 2014.

Russian troops have begun to deploy coastal missile systems Bal and Bastion near the village of Reservne, he said.

The Bastion system could be equipped with nuclear warheads which are capable of striking targets 600 km away, Turchynov said. Endi