* Economic problems forced Ukraine into the joint air defence system

it formed with other Commonwealth states earlier this month, the

commander of the former Soviet republic's anti-aircraft forces said

today.

''Already in the first years of independence, our anti-aircraft

defence system has run into serious problems, which are nearly

impossible to resolve considering the economic situation and isolation

from other Commonwealth countries,'' General Mykhailo Lopatyn told a

news conference.

Ukraine signed an agreement with most of the 11 other CIS members to

implement joint control over air space, inform each other about air

attacks and cooperate in fending off aggressors.

''The signatories of the agreement will get benefits like the use of

military research bases in Russia and Kazakhstan, and access to

technology and spare parts,'' he said.

''Once we start getting the equipment, we can push up battle-readiness

to 90-95% within three weeks,'' he said.

The Soviet Union's air defence system took 25 years to develop during

the Cold War and guard points encircled its borders. But the system

started crumbling when the communist monolith fell apart in late 1991.

Lopatyn said 40% of Ukraine's fighter aircraft were out of action

because of shortages of fuel and spare parts. Last year pilots only flew

a third as many practice flights as they had carried out during the

Soviet era.

The joint system in no way compromised Kiev's sovereignty, he said.

''Each state administers its own anti-aircraft forces independently.

They simply cooperate together.''--Reuter.