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Russian paratroopers’ armored unit involved in first Crimean drills

On March 27, joint drills involving the Airborne Force, the Black Sea Fleet and aviation of the District’s Air Force and Air Defense Army, and also military transport aviation were held in Crimea

T-72B3 tank Donat Sorokin/TASS

T-72B3 tank

© Donat Sorokin/TASS

VOLGOGRAD, April 4. /TASS/. An armored unit set up in Russia’s Airborne Force in 2018 and armed with T-72B3 tanks took part in drills in Crimea for the first time, a source in the region’s defense circles told TASS on Thursday.

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Air defense troops in Crimea practice defending vital infrastructure in drills

"Last week, an armored unit of the Airborne Force took part in the drills in Crimea for the first time," the source said, specifying that the unit was a tank company manned with contract-enlisted personnel.

As the press office of Russia’s Southern Military District reported on March 27, joint drills involving the Airborne Force, the Black Sea Fleet and aviation of the District’s Air Force and Air Defense Army, and also military transport aviation were held in Crimea. More than 1,500 paratroopers took part in the maneuvers.

Airborne Force Commander Andrei Serdyukov told TASS in July 2017 that the paratroops would set up three tank battalions before the end of 2018: in the 76th air assault division, in the 7th mountain air assault division and in one of air assault brigades. Before that, it was reported that there were plans to set up a tank battalion in each air assault division and brigade.

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