Publication:  N38 / Review period: September 1 – 30, 2024 /Author: Arsen Araqelov

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: 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. We will review the activities of the Armed Forces of the de facto republics against the backdrop of relatively passive activities of Russian servicemen in the occupied regions.

Abkhazia

As per open source reports, no activity of the so-called Defence Forces of Russia was observed in the de facto republic of Abkhazia in September.

Tskhinvali Rregion

Military Exercises

• On September 2, personnel of the so-called Defense Forces performed an unplanned march with standard weapons. Officers and rifle brigade took part in the march.
• On September 5, tactical and firing training was held for the conscripts of the so-called Defense Forces. During the training, participants used standard weapons and training grenades.
• On September 6, servicemen of the special purpose battalion of the so-called Ministry of Defense performed a multi-kilometer march in armored personnel carriers in the direction of Tskhinvali-Dzari-Gupta-Tskhinvali. The purpose of the event was professional training of drivers and mechanics.
• On September 26, the so-called The training company, staffed by conscripts of the so-called Defense Forces, underwent firing training. The training conducted under the supervision of officers of the special forces battalion. The conscripts were preparing to fire at stationary and emerging targets.

Conscripts during the Firing Training

• On September 27, the so-called Miistry of Defense started preparations for command and staff exercises. As per preliminary information, the training will last several days and will involve various command chains. The goal of the training is to increase coordination between agencies.

Theoretical Studies

• On September 4, the officers of the so-called Defense Forces attended classes on the basics of military communication. Cadets from the Russian military schools undergoing internships in the Defence Forces were also involved in the seminars. In addition to theoretical studies, the trainees learned the technical characteristics of military communication means. The training is taking place in accordance with the so-called „Professional Training Plan for Officers“ developed by the so-called Ministry of Defense.

Ossetian Officers During the Training

• On September 10, according to the officer training plan, officers of the so-called Ministry of Defense were given theoretical training on the topic „Engineering support for units during an offensive.“ As part of the training, the officers got acquainted with tactical changes of the engineering units of the Russian Defense Forces on the example of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine. In addition, the training also referred to the topic – „The concept of security. Military doctrine in the conditions of national security.“
• On September 10, personnel of the special purpose battalion of the so-called Ministry of Defense underwent theoretical training in military topography.
• On September 27, the de facto Ministry of Defense started medical examination of personnel, which aims at supporting their combat readiness.

Internship in the So-Called Ministry of Defense

• Cadets of the Kirov Military-Medical Academy of the Russian Defense Forces completed an internship in the medical department of the Defense Forces of the de facto Republic.

Agreement with Russia

• On September 19, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, submitted to the State Duma an agreement on the military-technical support of the occupied Tskhinvali region for ratification. The agreement was signed in Tskhinvali on August 23, 2023. The purpose of the agreement is to increase the defense capability of Russia and the de facto republic.

Awarding a Russian Colonel

• On September 19, the de facto President of the Tskhinvali region, Alan Gagloyev, awarded the Acting Commander of the 4th Russian military base stationed in the region, Colonel Rajab Aliyev, with the „Order of Friendship.“

Alan Gagloyev and Rajab Aliyev

Study in Russia

• On September 13, the de facto Deputy Minister of Defense, Vadim Syukaev, announced that in 2024, a total of 80 „citizens“ of the Tskhinvali region completed their studies at Russian military schools. He noted that after 2010, when an agreement was signed between the Ministries of Russia and the de facto republic on the admission of Ossetian recruits to Russian military schools, several hundred Ossetian soldiers graduated from Russian schools. According to Syukaev, the number of graduates is so high that the size of the so-called Defense Forces cannot meet the demand, which is why the de facto Ministry encourages Ossetian graduates to start serving at the Russian 4th military base stationed in the region.

Decrease of Georgian UAVs in Tskhinvali Airspace

• On September 13, Vadim Syukaev stated at a briefing that the facts of violation of the „airspace“ of the occupied Tskhinvali region have been significantly reduced. He said that a year ago, Georgian intelligence-unmanned aerial vehicles were often observed in the sky of Tskhinvali, and „now there are single cases of Georgian UAVs flying over, despite the fact that the number of aerial vehicles in Georgia has increased dramatically over the course of a year, given the military-industrial complex manufacturing these machines in Georgia“ – Syukaev explained the decrease of Georgian UAVs by the effective actions of the 4th military base deployed in the region.