Within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty in the period from 2 to 6 May, the mission of Canada, Great Britain and Ukraine will carry out an observation flight over the territory of Belarus and Russia on the Canadian C-130J from the Kubinka airfield, the head of the Russian National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction, Sergei Ryzhkov. "During the flight on the agreed route, Russian and Byelorussian specialists aboard the observation aircraft will monitor strict compliance with the agreed flight parameters and the use of the observation equipment provided by the Treaty," he said.. According to him, the C-130J surveillance aircraft belongs to the class of aircraft not intended for the use of any weapon. "The aircraft and the observation equipment installed on it (aerial cameras) were internationally surveyed, in which Russian experts took part, which excludes the use of technical means not provided for by the Treaty," he said..

The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992 and became one of the measures to build confidence in Europe after the Cold War. It has been operating since 2002 and allows participating countries to openly collect information on each other's military forces and activities. The treaty includes most of NATO countries, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and neutral Sweden and Finland.

Original article: Ukraine, Britain and Canada will observe the flight over Russia.