URGENT: Russia to allocate 25% of state defense order to nuclear forces

MOSCOW, March 5 (RIA Novosti) - A quarter of funds for Russian state defense orders will be allocated in 2009 to support the strategic nuclear forces, a deputy Russian defense minister said Thursday.

"A fourth of the state defense order will now go to support and develop strategic nuclear forces. Delivery of the Topol-M missile system to the troops is proceeding in line with the plan," General of the Army Vladimir Popovkin said.