MOSCOW, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Russia is now in the final phase of eliminating stockpiles of chemical weapons and will meet its 2015 deadline, the head of the effort said Tuesday.
Col. Vladimir Mandych told reporters the last phase is the most dangerous and expensive, ITAR-Tass reported. During the first three phases, about 66 percent of the total stockpile was disposed of.
"We are to do away with the most dangerous pieces of ammunition of complex design," Mandych said. "Their elimination is very costly and risky."
There are also 7,000 pieces of substandard ammunition.
Russia, which has four remaining facilities to neutralize chemical weapons, has been getting assistance from 15 countries, including the United States and members of the European Union.
The task has been under way since 1996, and the deadline for completion remains Dec. 31, 2015.
