Goals and results of the ad-hoc VLBI activity with Russian antennas

The Low Frequency VLBI Network project was started in 1996 to involve Russian radio telescopes in international VLBI activity. Eight antennas in Russia, Ukraine, India and Latvia were equipped with repaired Mk-2 terminals from USA and 92 cm receivers. More modern S2 recorders were installed at Bear Lakes RT-64 and Puschino RT-22. Mk-2 and S2 experiments were arranged during 1997-2000 at 92-cm and 18-cm wavelengths using various combinations of these antennas and radio telescopes in USA, South Africa, China, Italy and Poland. Five sessions were processed by the JPL/Caltech Block II and Penticton DRAO correlators. In this paper the scientific goals of this VLBI activity, results obtained so far and further plans are presented.