MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Units from Russia’s Airborne Troops are participating in an extensive military drill in Crimea. The exercise features more than 1,500 paratroopers, more than 300 military cargo aircraft and army helicopters, as well as the Black Sea Fleet’s large amphibious landing craft, the Russian Defense Ministry press service reported.
"Today a large-scale tactical military exercise has kicked off in Crimea. The 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division’s air assault and artillery regiments will conduct an air drop and live fire under the command of Guard Component Commander Colonel Andrei Sukhovetskiy," the ministry said.
The press service also clarified that over the course of the exercise "the regiments will practice the combined redeployment of troops over large distances in the least time possible." "Military personnel and equipment will be air-dropped from cargo aircraft onto a few landing sites," the Defense Ministry added.
One of the most spectacular parts of the drill will feature the landing of the air assault regiments from watercraft to seize and destroy simulated enemy control points and training camps for illegally armed combatants, the press service highlighted.
"The air assault regiments will have to maneuver along terrain that they are not accustomed to. Paratroopers will practice seizing and holding favorable defensive positions to ensure the landing and advance of the main forces with the support of artillery fire, tactical and army aviation, UAVs, as well as attached tank units," the Defense Ministry said.