by Xinhua Writers Hai Yang, Lu Jingli
MOSCOW, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia began its massive "Caucasus-2009" military exercises in the North Caucasus area bordering Georgia on Monday.
The move, analysts say, aims to help stabilize the situation in South Russia and prevent possible Georgian military action against its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
SIMILAR TO SOVIET EXERCISES
The exercises, commanded by Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of Russia's general staff, run until July 6 under the guidance of the Russian Armed Forces, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
A total of 8,500 servicemen, 200 tanks, 450 armored personnel carriers and 250 artillery guns are involved in the drills, Andrei Bobrun, a spokesman for the North Caucasus military district, told Itar-Tass.
Several branches, including units from the North Caucasus military district, the air force, the air defense force, airborne troops, the Caspian Flotilla and the Black Sea Fleet, are participating in the drills, Bobrun said.
The maneuvers, which are covering a wide territory including the Krasnodar and Rostov regions, as well as North Ossetia and Chechnya, assume that terrorists are attempting to cross the Russian border in several directions by land and sea.
The terrorists are expected, too, to stage several attacks on important transportation and communications hubs and occupy several districts in North Caucasus.
The troops participating in the exercises are expected to thwart the terrorists' plans, Bobrun said.
"During the exercise, the troops will practice a wide range of military measures aimed at ensuring security for Russian citizens, main transport and energy routes, strategically important infrastructure, and protecting Russia's economic interests in the southwest region," Bobrun told the RIA Novosti news agency.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Kalmykov said the exercises are being conducted on a large scale similar to drills that were held during the Soviet period, Itar-Tass reported.
