Russia on Monday (3 August) continued beating the war drums in South Ossetia during military exercises involving troops from the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation.
According to Russian military sources troops from the Russian base in South Ossetia this morning marched to the Dzartsem mountain range where the reinforced motorized rifle company occupied strategically important heights in the area of the mountain pass, in order to prevent the advance of the battalion tactical group into the concentration area. The crews of the MI-8AMTSh helicopters of the army aviation ensured the landing of tactical airborne assault forces from the motorized rifle unit in the mountains.
During the course of the exercises the personnel will perform live fires from BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, T-72B3 tanks and BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems.
More than 1,000 servicemen of the Southern Military District are taking part in the exercise, about 100 pieces of weapons and military equipment are involved.
The international community recognises South Ossetia as a part of Georgia and the Georgian government considers the Russian military forces in South Ossetia as an army of occupation.
source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: T72B Tanks are among the weaponary being used during Russian military drills in South Ossetia this Auguist (archive picture)
