Publication:  N12 / Review period: August 1-31, 2021 /Author: Ani Zirakashvili

Review of the Russian Military Forces’ Activities in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali 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 activities of the Russian military forces in the occupied regions of Georgia.

Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia

Military exercises

Units of the 7th military base of the Russian Federation in Abkhazia participated in various military exercises in August:

• On August 23, units of anti-aircraft missile systems carried out exercises. Servicemen determined target coordinates and successfully repelled missile and airstrikes of a conditional enemy, as well as performed shooting from the S-300, Osa-AKM, and Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems.
• The level of emergency preparedness of servicemen was checked at the 7th military base. Fire brigade servicemen extinguished a simulated fire on the territory of the unit, as well as evacuated combat equipment from the danger zone. The exercises involved up to 50 military servicemen.
• Military servicemen of a logistics unit carried out exercises at the Gudauta, Tsebelda, and Nagvalou military training grounds. Specialists worked out providing material support for both, military servicemen and combat equipment in the field.
• As part of exercises, artillerymen destroyed strongholds of a conventional enemy and performed shooting from the 2S3 Akatsya self-propelled howitzers. The Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles were also used. The exercise involved about 500 military servicemen and over 150 units of combat equipment.

Training of Military Servicemen of the Logistics Unit

Fight Against the COVID-19

• On August 16, the Russian Ministry of Defense sent a field hospital to Abkhazia. It comprises over 100 military personnel and 30 units of special military equipment. The hospital with 100 beds can accommodate additional 50 patients as well. The hospital arrived in Sokhumi on August 18 and launched the operation on the second day. At this stage, 71 patients undergo inpatient treatment at the hospital. As of August 30, Abkhazia registered 378 deaths with the coronavirus. In total, 25,088 confirmed cases of infection were reported.
• Russia sent 30 RCB (radiation, chemical, biological) protection specialists to Abkhazia. They treated social infrastructure facilities with a special disinfectant solution in Gudauta and Gagra and now continue the work in Sokhumi.
• The “President,” Aslan Bzhania, held talks with a Russian State Duma deputy, Adam Delimkhanov. As a result of which Russia will send two ambulances to Abkhazia. The de facto republic will receive the vehicles in a few days.

Russian Military Forces in the Tskhinvali Region

Military exercises

Units of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation in the Tskhinvali region took part in various military exercises in August:

• Motorized infantry units carried out exercises at the Dzartsemi military training ground. Military personnel destroyed illegal armed formations of a conditional enemy using the T-72BM tanks, the BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles, the Sani mortars, etc.

Joint Exercises

• Large-scale battalion-tactical exercises are being held at the 4th and 7th Russian military bases. The bilateral exercises started on August 9 and will last until September 15. The exercises will involve the army forces, military transport, operational-tactical aviation, ships of the Black Sea and the Caspian Flotilla, etc.

Plans for the Future

• Reserve units will be formed in regions of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Federation. The purpose of these units (БАРС - the country’s combat army reserve) will be to protect important “state” and military facilities, maintain law and order, take part in eliminating the consequences of natural disasters, etc.

Other Events

• On August 2, the Tskhinvali region marked the 91st anniversary of the establishment of the Airborne Forces. The President, Anatoly Bibilov, addressed the audience. The event ended with a traditional motor rally carrying “state flags” of the Tskhinvali region and flags of the Airborne Forces.
• On August 8, the Tskhinvali region marked the 13th anniversary of the “Georgian military aggression.” Military personnel of the 4th military base held a rally, after which they decorated the bust of the Russian “hero,” Major Denis Vetchinov, with flowers and wreaths.

Celebration of the 91st Anniversary of the Establishment of the Airborne Forces in Tskhinvali

Army-2021

The 7th International Army Games (Army 2021) is a large-scale international military event that officially started on August 22 and will last until September 2. It involves over 5,000 military personnel from 40 countries. There are several competitions within the framework of Army-2021, which, in turn, include several stages. At the same time, the Army-2021 military-technical forum was held on August 22-28 which presented over 28 thousand exhibits. Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region are actively involved in both military events.

Abkhazia

• The team from Abkhazia took the ninth out of 17 places in the Tactical Shooter (Тактический стрелок) competition
• The team from Abkhazia completed seven special tasks in the Elbrus Ring international competition. They performed combat shooting at a distance of 250 m, destroyed 36 targets, crossed the mountain river Terskol, etc. The team took the sixth out of nine places
• The first crew of Abkhazia faced a technical problem during the Tank Biathlon competition and was disqualified.

Tskhinvali Region

• The first crew of the Tskhinvali region took second place, the second crew – the first place, and the third crew - the second place in the Tank Biathlon competition. In the semi-final races, which will be held on September 1, the team’s rivals will be Myanmar and Laos.
• The Tskhinvali region performed three stages in The Excellence in Military Intelligence competition. Reportedly, the team did not show high results as several members fell ill with the flu and were hospitalized.
• On August 27-29, A military-technical exhibition was held within the framework of the Army-2021 Forum at the 4th military base. Anatoly Bibilov and the Russian “Ambassador,” Marat Kulakhmetov, attended the opening ceremony. During the event, combat and special equipment, as well as military exercises were demonstrated. Hundreds of people were present at the exhibition. Among them were schoolchildren. All visitors were given the opportunity to take part in various activities such as shooting from a crossbow and pneumatic weapons, developing various hand-to-hand combat techniques, providing first aid, etc. Roman Viazovsky, the Commander of the 4th military base, was also present at the closing ceremony of the exhibition.

Army-2021 Military-Technical Exhibition at the 4th Military Base

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 is located on the territory of Abkhazia, and the Russian 4th military base - in the Tskhinvali region. Both regions are part of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation.