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Russia to use Su-25 jets from Kyrgyz airbase in Moscow-led bloc’s drills in Tajikistan

The crews of the Russian ground support aircraft will practice eliminating a notional enemy targets
Su-25 aircraft Donat Sorokin/TASS
Su-25 aircraft
© Donat Sorokin/TASS

YEKATERINBURG, October 12. /TASS/. A wing of Su-25 ground attack aircraft from Russia’s Kant integrated airbase in Kyrgyzstan will participate in the joint drills of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states in Tajikistan, the press office of Russia’s Central Military District reported on Tuesday.

The crews of the Russian ground support aircraft will practice eliminating a notional enemy targets, the press office specified.

"Four Su-25 attack aircraft flew from their home aerodrome and landed at the Gissar airfield near Dushanbe. During the active phase of the Interaction 2021 joint drills of the CSTO Collective Operational Response Forces, the attack aircraft crews will practice searching for and eliminating a notional enemy’s facilities. They will also provide fire support from the air for motorized infantry and armored units in the course of accomplishing combat training assignments on mountainous and desert terrain," the press office said in a statement.

The CSTO member states will hold joint drills dubbed Interaction, Search and Echelon on the territory of Tajikistan near the border with Afghanistan in October that will involve over 2,700 troops. The exercise Echelon scheduled for October 18-23 will be conducted in Tajikistan for the first time.

Russia’s Kant integrated airbase in Kyrgyzstan is part of the CSTO Collective Operational Response Forces and provides airspace security for the Moscow-led bloc. The airbase operates Su-25 ground attack aircraft and Mi-8 helicopters.