Publication:  N18 / Review period: February 1-28, 2022 /Author: Ani Zirakashvili

Review of the Activities of the Russian Military Forces 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 took part in various military exercises in February:

• Battalion tactical groups carried out exercises at the Tsebelda military training ground. Motorized infantry repulsed attacks of conditional opponent's subversive groups. The regular exercises involved about 1,500 servicemen and 200 units of combat equipment, including Dozor reconnaissance vehicles, Akatsya self-propelled artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.
• Motorized infantry carried out exercises at the Tsebelda and Nagvalou military training grounds. The servicemen developed the skills of operational withdrawal of combat and special equipment from permanent dislocation points and performed long-distance marches. The exercise involved reconnaissance, artillery and other units, a total of about 1,500 military personnel, and about 250 units of combat equipment.
• Bilateral exercises started at the Tsebelda military training ground. Motorized infantry, artillerymen, and tankmen developed defensive skills and destroyed subversive groups of conventional adversaries. The exercises involved over 1,500 servicemen and about 300 units of combat equipment, including Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles.
• Motorized infantry, artillery and reconnaissance units carried out exercises at the Tsebelda military training ground. The servicemen performed combat shootings, as well as used Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles to determine the location of subversive groups of conventional adversaries and then eliminated them. More than 1,500 military personnel and about 300 units of combat equipment were involved in the exercise.
• Servicemen started preparations for the International Army Games 2022 at the Nagvalou military training ground. The selection stage for the Artillery Masters competition is underway. The event involves about 500 military servicemen and 60 vehicles and artillery units. The military servicemen with the best results will compete in the second qualifying round of the competition.

Other Events

• Servicemen of the 7th military base took part in the Become a Donor campaign and donated blood. The campaign took place at the Central Blood Bank of the Sokhumi Republican Hospital. In total, 50 liters of blood were donated.
• Physical fitness of military servicemen was checked at the 7th military base. Specialists of platoon instructors of physical training assessed the strength, speed, endurance, and military skills of military personnel.
• On the Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23), military personnel, together with servicemen of the de facto Ministry of Defense of Abkhazia, spruced up about 30 monuments, memorials, and graves of the Red Army soldiers.

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 February:

• As part of tactical exercises, military personnel of the Special Forces eliminated conditional saboteurs attempting to seize a hospital. Unmanned aerial vehicles were also used to reconnoiter the area during the exercise.
• As part of exercises at the Dzartsemi military training ground, military servicemen used the Granat-1 unmanned aerial vehicle. Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled howitzers and Grad volley fire jet systems were used to destroy targets.
• Tankmen carried out exercises at the Dzartsemii military training ground. Military personnel was instructed by those tankmen who won the Tank Biathlon as part of the 7th International Army Games 2021.

Other Events

• February 2 marked the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the 4th military base. At a ceremony, outstanding military personnel was given gifts, the reconnaissance battalion held demonstrative exercises, a military orchestra gave a concert, a special excursion and an exhibition of weapons and combat equipment were organized.
• On February 15, the Tskhinvali region commemorated the day of Internationalist Soldiers. The memorial to Soldiers was decorated with flowers. The event was attended by military personnel of the 4th military base as well. The Commander of the base, Roman Viazovsky, addressed the audience.
• On the Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Lessons of Courage were held in several schools of the Tskhinvali region. Servicemen of the 4th military base talked about the history of the mentioned date, the military success of Russia and the establishment of 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