Russian Military Exercises Underway

Courtesy of the Old Crow.

The following extract, taken from the Russian Ministry of Defence website, has been translated and submitted for information and interest by Old Crow. Date of extract 8 September. Note of interest: That's two large-ish scale Exercises that the Russians are running. Can't be short of cash, can they?

Operational-Strategic Exercise "Zapad-2009" ...

Today sees the beginning of Exercise Zapad-2009 which involves the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation together with those of the Republic of Belarus'. The Exercise will run between 8th and 29th of September and will be under the general direction of the Minister of Defence of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus' and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It is the ultimate operational training measures by the Armed Forces of each nation in the Union for the year 2009.

The concept of the Exercise has been developed jointly by the General Staffs of the Armed Forces of Belarus' and the Russian Federation and bears an exclusively defensive character. It represents training by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus' and the Russian Federation in guaranteeing strategic stability in the Eastern European region.

Participation in the joint Exercise will involve:

Russian Federation Forces.. Military Direction Staffs; Detachments and units from the Moscow and Volga-Urals Military Districts; the Baltic Fleet; Air Force, Air Defence, and Airborne Forces command staffs, Rear Services command staffs and operational groups from federal executive functions.

Armed Forces of Republic of Belarus'.. Military Direction Staffs; Detachments and units from operational commands, operational groups from civil organisations, personnel and assets from Internal Security Forces, police, State Security etc.

In all, some 12.5 thousand service personnel will be involved. (Russia: 5-6 thousand; Belarus' 7-8 thousand) Up to 40 aircraft and up to 200 combat vehicles.