MINSK, December 8 (RIA Novosti, Olesya Luchaninova) - The Belarusian Defense Ministry has finally decided to decommission some of its 19th-century small arms, the ministry said in a statement Thursday.

"Analysis of small arms in service with [Belarusian] armed forces showed that certain types of weaponry have become outdated and their technical characteristics no longer satisfy modern requirements," the ministry said. "These weapons are no longer in production in manufacturer-countries and will no longer be used to equip the armed forces."

The small arms destined to be sent to the museum include the PPSh sub-machinegun, in service since 1940; the Mosin rifle adopted by the Russian army as far back as 1891; the Degtyaryov hand-held machinegun, in service since 1927; and the famed 1895 Nagant revolver.