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Russian paratroops take part in practical phase of CSTO exercise in Tajikistan

In the course of the exercise the crews of Sukhoi-25 fighter-bombers and Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters attacked training targets
Sukhoi-25 fighter-bomber Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Sukhoi-25 fighter-bomber
© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, May 19. /TASS/. Russian paratroops and military contingents from the other member-countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization have taken part in the practical phase of the CSTO rapid reaction force exercise in Tajikistan, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

"The practical phase was the last one. It incorporated air reconnaissance with the use of aircraft and drones, operations by mobile intelligence groups on cross country vehicles (quadricycles, motocycles and off-road vehicles), identification, encirclement and elimination of hypothetical armed groups with the fire of artillery units, aircraft and combat vehicles," the Defence Ministry said.

In the course of the exercise the crews of Sukhoi-25 fighter-bombers and Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters attacked training targets. Four Sukhoi-27 fighters from Kazakhstan provided air protection. More than 2,500 officers and men from the CSTO countries took part.

Russia delegated a group of 500 paratroops from the 98th airborne division. Deputy Defence Minister Arkady Bakhin checked their readiness before the exercise.