Russian troops to drill missions at 14 practice ranges in snap check

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. Drills will be held at 14 training ranges in the south of Russia as part of a combat readiness check that started in the Russian Armed Forces on August 25, the Defense Ministry’s press office said on Tuesday.

"Tactical and special tactics exercises are being held at 14 combined-arms training ranges of the Southern Military District with live-firing, the rehearsals of troops’ practical actions and training to counter a notional enemy’s subversive and reconnaissance groups, control exercises in the training subjects such as driving combat vehicles and tanks, firing, tactical, engineering, technical, medical and airborne drills," the Defense Ministry said in a statement obtained by TASS.

At the Kapustin Yar training range near Astrakhan in south Russia, the troops will practice repelling a notional enemy’s massive air strike while sailors in the Black and Caspian Seas will destroy a group of enemy warships. Also, marine infantry will practice boarding large amphibious assault ships and landing on unprepared terrain.

As the Defense Ministry said, these exercises will complete the troops’ sudden combat readiness check.

Russia’s Defense Ministry is currently holding a combat readiness check of troops as part of preparations for the Caucasus-2016 maneuvers. The check involves units of the Southern Military District and part of the troops of the Central and Western Military Districts.

It was also reported that the Northern Fleet, the Aerospace Force and the Airborne Troops would be involved in the drills as well.

The combat readiness check is expected to be over on August 31.