Monthly Review

Review of the Activities of the Russian Military Forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region

2022 / 05 / 03

Publication: N20 / Review period: April 1-30, 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.

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

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 April:

  • Military servicemen of the 7th military base are preparing for participation in the “Sayan March” which is the first competition of the International Army Games-2022. The servicemen left for Krasnoyarsk Krai and as part of the training skied 50 km and completed 12 special tasks.
  • Anti-aircraft units repulsed air and naval missile attacks of a conventional enemy, as well as eliminated subversive and reconnaissance groups. The exercises involved S-300, Osa-AKM , and Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems.
  • As part of exercises which were held at the Tsebelda military training ground, artillery units destroyed targets of a conventional enemy located at up to 2,000 meters, as well as performed up to 50 military-medical, technical, tactical-special, fire training, RCB (radiation, chemical, biological) tasks. Acacia 152 mm self-propelled howitzers were used during the exercises.

Russian Military Forces in the Tskhinvali Region

Other Events

  • An Ossetian arm wrestler, Alan Beteyev, became the champion of the Cup of the Russian Federation Armed Forces in arm wrestling. Beteyev performed as part of the team of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation in the Tskhinvali region. The athlete competed in the weight category up to 100 kg. The competition was held in St. Petersburg. The winners were announced at a ceremonial event on April 22.
  • The region is actively preparing for the date dedicated to the 77th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, which is celebrated on May 9. The military parade will be attended by military personnel of the de facto Armed Forces and the 4th military base of Russia, a total of about 800 people. The parade will present 40 units of combat equipment. The preparations for the festive events are conducted on a daily basis.

 

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