Russia gets new Strategic Missile Forces chief
16:52 22/06/2010 GORKI (Moscow Province), June 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday he appointed Lt. Gen. Sergei Karakayev as the new commander of the Strategic Missile Forces.
He announced the appointment during a meeting with Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Karakayev, former SMF chief of staff, who replaces Col. Gen. Andrei Shvaichenko.
Addressing Karakayev, Medvedev, who is commander in chief of the Russian Armed Forces, said the SMF were crucial for "the country's nuclear shield."
"I hope that you will do all you can to apply your knowledge and experience for the good of our Motherland," Medvedev said.
He offered no reason for the dismissal of Shvaichenko, who had served in his position for less than a year (since August 2009), but said the SMF must at all times be "in full combat readiness and able to perform missions assigned to them."
"Although we are reducing our nuclear arsenals, that should not affect the combat component in the framework of the current treaty or the [new strategic arms reduction] treaty that is subject to ratification," Medvedev said.
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