BISHKEK, May 29. /TASS/. The active phase of the Russian-Kyrgyz maneuvers that are underway in Kyrgyzstan will begin on June 2, the press service of the Russian Air Force Base in Kant (Kyrgyzstan’s Chui Province) told TASS on Friday. The base’s equipment and personnel are also engaged in the exercise.
"During the active phase, Russian paratroopers and military of the National Guard of Kyrgyzstan will launch a landing operation to a specified area form our base’s airdrome," the press service said. "Then they will be airlifted by helicopter to the National Guard’s Edelweiss training center for a building storming drill." In addition, in the coming days they will conduct mountainous terrain drills in the Tatyr gorge located on the northern slope of Ala-Too ridge. According to the press service, the Kyrgyz and Russian troops have previously held several tactical and special exercises, including the range practice during which they fired all types of small arms, launched drones and had parachute packing drills.
The joint training exercise of the paratroopers and National Guard fighters was launched on May 25 and will continue until June 5. According to deputy commander of Russia’s Central Military District Yevgeny Ustinov, it is the first ever exercise of such a large scale conducted by the two states, "with the arrival of the troops contingent." "The maneuvers are conducted quite successfully," he said. "The military are gaining interaction experience." However, according to Ustinov, only preliminary conclusions can now be made on the joint exercise, and the final results will be known after the maneuvers are over and their "detailed analysis."
Ustinov said previously that "the main task is to study each other’s experience." Ustinov said that during the war games the two states’ troops would improve their weapons and reconnaissance training, including with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. "We hope that the next joint exercise will take place in Russia’s territory," said the deputy commander. He said that several Russian military facilities are located in Kyrgyzstan. "Therefore, if the situation aggravates, we, jointly with our colleagues from Kyrgyzstan must be ready to ensure their security," he added.