DUSHANBE, February 27, Asia-Plus — Planned five-day command-staff drill for servicemen of the Tajikistan-deployed Russian military base 201 battalion, which is a part of the rapid deployment force of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), started at the Lohour training ground, some 20 kilometer southeast of Dushanbe, on Monday, February 26.
Pavel Konev, an aid to the military base commander, said that the purpose of the exercise is to rehearse coordination and interaction in combat missions in mountains and deserts. “The units will train in combat deployment, and will organize and conduct a special combat operation against illegal militant groups intruding from a neighboring state,” the source said.
Soldiers will also undertake 300-kilometer forced marches over rugged desert and mountain terrain from Lohour to the Mumirak training ground in the Khatlon province.
In all, 500 military personnel, along with armored vehicles, artillery, air-defense batteries and ground support aircraft are involved in the exercises, which will continue through March 2. The final phase at the Mumirak training ground will include live firing missions and involve ground attack aircraft and combat helicopters.
Commander of Russian military base in Tajikistan, Major-General Aleskey Zavizyon is in overall command of the ongoing war game, according to the source.
