Moscow, 4 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- The Russian Defense Ministry says President Boris Yeltsin has dismissed three senior generals.
A spokesman for the defense ministry told our correspondent today that the three had been dismissed in accord with a presidential decree issued yesterday.
The decree names the three as the commander of Russia's airborne forces, Colonel-General Yevgeny Podkolzin; the commander of Russia's space forces, Colonel-General Vladimir Ivanov; and first deputy chief of the general staff, Colonel-General Vladimir Zhurbenko.
No reason was given for the dismissals, but a previous news report quoted Podkolzin as saying the president had dismissed him because he had passed retirement age. Podkolzin said he does not know who will replace him.
Confirmation of the dismissals comes as Russia's Defense Council held its first session in Moscow today to discuss reform of the armed services.