CFE Inspections in Ukraine

Due to the surprise-nature of the CFE inspections, the Ukrainian escort team only found out the chosen declared site (CFE terminology for the barracks) from the large number of sites belonging to the Odessa point-of-entry (POE) after one hour upon arrival. This time the 79th Airmobile Brigade in Nikolayev was chosen.

After the team’s arrival at the unit − following the strict choreography of the CFE Treaty − the inspection team received the so-called declared site (barracks, training and firing ranges) diagram containing the necessary information. Following this they were given a briefing by the unit commander. His briefing contained the unit’s official designation, subordination, the number of weapon and equipment systems subject to the CFE Treaty, the personnel strength, the first higher echelon’s aggregate number of weapon and equipment systems and the safety measures. Following this, the team conducted the inspection in two sub-teams by inspecting the barracks, the motor-pools, the training and firing ranges. The team has found all reported equipment. No surplus or missing equipment was found. During such an inspection, the representatives of the inspected unit have to open all buildings, sheds etc. with doors wider than 2 meters. The inspection team recorded the presence of the equipment in digital photos. After the successful inspection the activity was concluded with the signature the official inspection report. Next, the inspection team leader, LTC Gábor Ács (HDF CDC ACD) has officially thanked the unit’s personnel for their preparation as well as their open and frank attitude. Without all these, this mission would have been much harder.

Just before the official closure of the first inspection, the inspection team leader has announced the sequential inspection’s declared site which was also in Nikolayev, but at a different location. The speciality of this inspection was that it was a training inspection based on the Ukrainian-Hungarian bilateral agreement, and the place was selected and offered by the Ukrainian verification organisation. The inspected unit knew nothing about the training nature of the inspection. This way the newly trained Hungarian and Ukrainian inspectors – having been appointed to team leader and deputy positions – could practice their acquired knowledge in a “real" inspection at the 299 Tactical Aviation Brigade. The “scenario" of the inspection was similar to the previous one’s, only this time the Su−24, Su−25 and L−39 aircraft had to be counted by the inspectors instead of the wheeled vehicles and artillery pieces.

Following the inspections, in Odessa the Hungarian-led team re-joined another multinational team conducting an Open Skies Treaty observation flight and flew back to Hungary. There they carried out the debriefing. The inspection team’s leader thanked the active participation of the guest inspectors. They have greatly contributed to the successful conduct of the mission. With this, the “easy part" of the inspections is over, and the only remaining thing to do is report-writing.

Photos by the author