Russia Reported to Be Moving Division of About 3000 Soldiers and Technicians into Egypt

The Daily Telegraph reported from Cairo today that Russia is moving an air defense division–approximately 3000 soldiers and technicians–to Egypt in an effort to defend vital naval and air bases in the Eastern Mediterranean from Israeli attack. But many Soviet diplomats, led by Russia’s Ambassador to Cairo, Serge Vinogradoff, are deeply opposed to a further expansion of Soviet forces in Egypt, the Telegraph said. According to the newspaper, three or four Russians have already been killed by Israeli artillery in the Suez Canal zone and Ambassador Vinogradoff fears that a new and decisive phase would be reached if Soviet pilots were assigned to fly combat mission in Egyptian planes. The Russians meanwhile have been accused of lowering Egyptian morale by not permitting Egyptian troops and technicians to man the SAM-Ss.

In addition to the anti-aircraft defense, the Soviets have rehabilitated Egypt’s fleet of MIG-21 supersonic fighters to make them more effective against Israeli Phantoma, the Telegraph reported, The Russians are making their most elaborate effort in anti-aircraft defense. the Telegraph reported. The new system includes about 40 SAM-S sites, 25 SAM-2 sites plus an unknown number of 100 mm. anti-aircraft batteries and an extensive early warning system. The defense system is deployed to cover Cairo, the harbor at Alexandria on which Egypt now depends for all of its imports and exports and the Aswan High Dam. The early warning radar and communications system has been installed on the West Bank of the Suez Canal and on the Red Sea and Mediterranean costs, the Telegraph reported.