Publication: N34 / Review period: November 1 – December 31, 2023 /Author: Elene Mindiashvili 

Review of the Activities of the Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia and the Tkshinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to the Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The purpose of the publication is to review trainings of the military forces of the Russian Federation deployed in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, as well as other important events related to the Russian 7th and 4th military bases in these regions. The review is a monthly publication and will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the Kremlin policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.

*Note: The review does not include information about military personnel of the 4th and 7th military bases and volunteers from Abkhazia or the Tskhinvali region who are fighting in the Russian war against Ukraine.

** Note: A major part of military personnel of the 4th and 7th military bases are dispatched to fight against Ukraine. Therefore, the number of military exercises in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region has been significantly reduced; however, against this backdrop, the Armed Forces of the occupied regions are relatively active and periodically conduct various exercises. Despite the relatively passive activities of Russian servicemen in the occupied regions, we will review the activities of the Armed Forces of the de facto republics.  

Abkhazia

Military Exercises

• According to a decree of the Head of the so-called State Security Service, Dimitri Dbari, the Special Forces underwent special tactical training at the agency's training base and Kvemo Eshera training ground. During the training, the military neutralized and detained armed criminals.
• As part of winter trainings, presentatives of the de facto Ministry of Defense checked the combat readiness of the military units.
• The reconnaissance company of the reserve rifle brigade of the de facto Ministry of Defense underwent special tactical training at the training ground.

Meeting with Schoolchildren

• Officers of the de facto Ministry of Defense together with representatives of the World Abkhaz-Abaza Congress visited a school in the village of Duripshi, the Gudauta district, where they met with 9th, 10th and 11th grade schoolchildren and talked about the importance of choosing a profession. “The Ministry of Defense pays special attention to the military-patriotic upbringing of the young generation and systematically works with them,” the statement of the de facto agency says.

Taking Oath

• Recruits took military oath at the assembly square of the General Staff of the so-called Armed Forces of Abkhazia. They were distributed to respective units. Before the ceremony, they completed a young fighter course at the training center of the de facto Ministry of Defense.

Oath taking ceremony

Summary Event

• On December 20-21, an operational mobilization meeting of the general staff and personnel of the de facto Ministry of Defense was held. The meeting summarized the year and reviewed security related problems, the ways of their elimination and the directions of the development of the Armed Forces.

Tskhinvali Region

Military Exercises

• Theoretical lessons were delivered to officers of the rifle brigade of the de facto Ministry of Defense. The lessons were aimed at preparing officers for mobilization and wartime conditions. Later, they also underwent a two-day practical training at the educational and material base of the “Ministry.”
• Military personnel of the de facto Ministry of Defense underwent tactical field training at the educational and material base of the Ministry's training center.
• Command and staff training was held for servicemen of the de facto Ministry of Defense at the training center of the agency. Trainees exercised in the production and control of artillery fire, the use of standard weapons and heavy armor. This was the last large-scale exercise of the year which was aimed at developing the skills necessary for full combat readiness of military personnel. The de facto president, Alan Gagloyev, and the de facto Defense Minister, Marat Pavlov, also checked the course of the training.

Taking Oath

• Recruits of the fall call-up took oath in the military city.

Training of Recruits

• Recruits underwent tactical and field engineering training at the training and material base of the training center of the de facto Ministry of Defense.
• Recruits underwent combat and physical training within the “Young Warrior” course.
• Recruits of the fall conscription underwent field training at the combat training ground of the de facto Ministry of Defense.

Testing for the Right to Wear a Blue Beret

• Soldiers of the Special Forces battalion passed a two-day qualification test to get the right to wear a blue beret. Those soldiers who successfully passed the test were assigned a monthly salary supplement in the amount of RUB 10,000,

Summary Event

• On the last working day of the year, a meeting of the board of the de facto Ministry of Defense summarized the year 2023. Together with the de facto Minister, Marat Pavlov, the de facto Prime Minister, Konstantin Jusoev, the Secretary of the de facto Security Council, Anatoly Pliev, and the Chairman of the de facto Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security, Atzamaz Bibilov, also attended the meeting.

Annual summary meeting at the de-facto Ministry of Defense.

According to Pavlov, the year 2023 turned out to be fruitful for the de facto agency, since the plan for the year was fully implemented. Speaking about the year 2024, he announced an increase in the intensity of military training and, followingly, the development of combat readiness skills of the personnel.

Among the issues discussed during the session, one of the main issues was increasing the amount of compensation for military personnel. According to Pavlov, the military will receive increased salaries as a result of Russian co-financing.

After the August 2008 war, Russian occupation forces were deployed in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. In 2010, Russia signed agreements with the de facto republics of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region on the deployment of combined Russian military bases on the territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region for the next 49 years. The Russian 7th military base locates on the territory of Abkhazia, and the Russian 4th military base - in the Tskhinvali region. Both are part of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation