Publication:  N19 / Review period: March 1-31, 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 March:

• Artillerymen carried out exercises at the 7th military base. Military personnel fired combat shots and destroyed armor and command posts of a conventional enemy. The exercise involved over 1,500 military personnel and about 300 units of weapons and ammunition.
• Military drivers also completed exercises at the 7th military base. As part of the special training course, military personnel developed skills in maneuvering combat equipment in populated areas, in difficult road traffic situations, on the highway, etc. More than 400 military servicemen participated in the exercise.
• Military servicemen of the 7th military base are preparing for the Tank Biathlon competition at the Pudboy military training ground in the Russian Federation. The Tank Biathlon is one of the international competitions of the Army Games. Military servicemen drive T-72B3 tanks. Tankmen from the 4th military base are also participating in the exercise.

Other Events

• On March 8, International Women's Day was marked at the 7th military base. A ceremonial concert and performance of a military orchestra was held for military servicewomen and female civilian personnel of the base. There are over 100 servicewomen and 150 female civilian staff at the 7th military base.

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 March:

• Artillerymen completed exercises at the 4th military base. Servicemen developed tactical, special and technical training, as well as combat fire management skills. They fired control shots and destroyed conventional enemy targets located at a distance of 15 km.
• Military medics practiced the search and evacuation of conditionally wounded servicemen using the Sagittarius special intelligence complex. The exercise was held at the Dartsmezi military training ground and involved up to 300 military medics and over 20 units of weapons and combat equipment.
• Tactical groups also carried out exercises at the Dartsemi military training ground. The exercise involved motorized infantry, drone and reconnaissance units, as well as radio-electronic warfare specialists. In total, the exercise involved over 300 servicemen and about 50 units of special combat equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles.

Tactical Group Carries Out Exercise at the Dzartzemi Military Training Ground. Source: www.cominf.org

Other Events

• Yunarmiya instructors are conducting lessons for schoolchildren at the 4th military base. The lessons are focused on the basics of safety and combat training, first aid provision, as well as the history of the Russian Federation and Ossetia. Among the event organizers is the Rossotrudnichestvo office in the Tskhinvali region. Lessons are free and children over the age of nine can attend them.

“Volunteers" in the Russia-Ukraine War

Abkhazia

Reportedly, Akhra Avidzba (nicknamed as Abkhaz), an ethnic Abkhaz field commander, is fighting against Ukraine in the Donbas region. He formed a volunteer subunit Piatnashka. Avidzba was dislocated near the city of Avdeevka, in the occupied Donetsk region. It should be noted that Avidzba has bad relations with the de facto government of Abkhazia - he was also detained for several months last year. In addition, two battalions of the 7th military base, a total of 800 military personnel, were dispatched to Donbas. At this time, it is unknown where are they exactly dislocated and what is their task.

Tskhinvali Region

As for the Tskhinvali region, about 1,200 servicemen of the 4th military base are fighting for Russia in Donbas. They were personally seen off by the de facto President, Anatoly Bibilov. Bibilov also addressed the servicemen and wished the military to „win and return soon.” The bulk of the contracted troops left for Donbas on March 16. Later, on March 26, additional forces were dispatched in the direction of Ukraine. It has recently become known that personnel of the battalion-tactical group formed by Russia at the 4th military base refused to combat and they were withdrawn from Donbas.

In the Tskhinvali region, several humanitarian rallies were held in support of Ossetian soldiers fighting against Ukraine in Donbas. On March 28, the collection of food and other necessary items for soldiers was completed at the Tskhinvali N2 School. Schoolchildren also wrote letters to soldiers. On March 30, another rally began - From Mothers and Wives, We Are with You. The Rossotrudnichestvo office in the Tskhinvali region and its head, Sergey Skvortsov, are actively involved in the latter. In addition to Rossotrudnichestvo, the rally is also organized by the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in the Tskhinvali region and the Russian 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