Russian base in Tajikistan receives 100 vehicles

MOSCOW, June 14 (UPI) -- About 100 new armored personnel carriers and tanks have reportedly been delivered to Russia's 201st military base in Tajikistan.

"Within the planned rearmament, about 100 units of new equipment, mostly the BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, as well as more than 10 T-72B1 tanks, have been delivered to the 201st military base," Central Military District commander's aide Yaroslav Roshchupkin was quoted by Russia's Tass news agency as saying.

"The new armored vehicles have increased firepower, improved crew protective system and new communication systems," Roshchupkin added.

Units receiving the vehicles included helicopter and unmanned aviation units, logistics, engineering, medical support and military police Roshchupkin said. The crews of the vehicles underwent retraining in Russia in advance.

The 201st military base is stationed in the Dushanbe and Kurgan-Tyube garrisons. Tass reports the vehicles were delivered by special trains that traveled more than 3,700 miles.

"The same number of units of the combat equipment earlier versions was taken from Tajikistan to Russia by return trains," Roshchupkin said.

Russian officials have pledged to provide all possible assistance to Tajikistan's military to help mitigate problems emanating from Afghanistan on Tajikistan's southern border, Tass reported in February.