Publication:  N2 / Review period: October 1-31, 2020 /Author: Ani Zirakashvili

Review of the Russian Military Forces’ Activities 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 and 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

In October, units of the Russian 7th military base in Abkhazia participated in various military exercises:

• Repair units exercised to repair combat equipment in the field. Up to 50 combat equipment were involved in special exercises at the Nagvalou military training ground.
• Artillerymen exercised to improve their shooting techniques. More than 500 military servicemen participated in the planned exercises at the Tsebelda and Nagvalou military training grounds. During the exercises, servicemen used up to 100 units of combat equipment, including modernized self-propelled artillery equipment Acacia, mortar Sani and D-30 howitzers.
• Reconnaissance unit exercised to detect and eliminate illegal armed formations of a conditional enemy. Up to 300 military servicemen took part in the exercise at the Tsebelda military training ground.
• Radio-electronic warfare specialists exercised to decommission radiocommunication systems of a conditional enemy. The exercise was held at the Nagvalou military training ground. Servicemen used the Leer-3 and Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles.
• RCB (radiation, chemical, biological) protection specialists exercised at the Tsebelda military training ground. More than 100 servicemen and up to 20 units of combat equipment were involved in the exercise.
• Military servicemen organized a high-speed digital communication in difficult terrain. About 100 military servicemen participated and more than 50 units of combat and special equipment, including the modern mobile communication complex Redut, were involved in the exercise.
• Military servicemen used the Pak-007 multimedia mobile complex, which allows to listen to the latest and ongoing news while camped in the field.
• Operators of anti-tank guided missile systems and tank crews carried out virtual exercises on computer simulators. More than 500 servicemen participated in the simulation military exercise and completed their respective tasks in a virtual combat reality.
• More than 100 tankmen of the 7th military base exercised at the Maikop military training ground, in Adygea.
• A reconnaissance unit performed a 20-kilometer march overcoming and destroying ambushes of a conditional enemy in a difficult terrain at the Tsebelda military training ground. More than 500 servicemen participated in the exercise.
• More than 600 servicemen of reconnaissance, motorized infantry and artillery units exercised at the Tsebelda military training ground. Unmanned aerial vehicles and up to 100 units of combat equipment, including the Acacia modernized self-propelled gun, the Sun mortar, the BTR-82AM armored vehicles and Tiger-type vehicles, were involved in the exercise.
• A motorized infantry unit completed a test in tactical shootings at the Tsebelda and Nagvalou military training grounds. A special commission evaluated skills of military servicemen. More than 2 thousand military servicemen participated in the activity.

Joint exercises

• More than 1,500 military servicemen of the 7th military base and the de facto Ministry of Defense of Abkhazia participated in  joint exercises at the Tsebelda and Nagvalou military training grounds. Servicemen practiced defensive and offensive actions, as well as performed tactical maneuvers in difficult terrain.

Other events

• Military servicemen of different units passed the final physical fitness test for 2020. Their agility, strength, endurance and military skills were tested by a special commission. According to the test results servicemen received additional monetary compensation.
• Reconnaissance and firing units were confirmed the Strike Subunit honorary title. Servicemen passed tactical, engineering, medical and physical training tests.
• More than 50 officers received apartments on the territory of the Russian Federation as part of the accumulative-mortgage program. The program allows military servicemen to obtain targeted loans to purchase housing in the desired region of Russia, and the mortgage loan will be fully repaid by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
• More than 1000 military servicemen from different units participated in the Spartakiad. Up to 20 sporting activates were held, including competitions in chess, football, handball, etc. Military servicemen performed a 5-kilometer march. The winner, a reconnaissance unit, was awarded a cup and cash prizes.
• The preparation for winter lasted for two weeks and was completed on October 20. Military servicemen checked weapons and ammunition and prepared it for winter operation. Up to 40 facilities of the military base were also inspected and technical maintenance was carried out as  necessary.
• RCB protection units carried out disinfection works of more than 150 facilities of the 7th military base using a special disinfectant. More than 100 military servicemen were involved in the activity.

Conscripts

• The first group of conscripts completed their military service. More than 150 recruits returned to their permanent residences.

Russian Military Forces in the Tskhinvali Region

Military Exercises

• More than 500 servicemen of reconnaissance and sniper units exercised at the Dzartsemi military training ground. Several “sniper duels” were held to practice shooting at maximum distance. Servicemen carried out search operations using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Other activities

• The preparation of military equipment for winter operation was started at the base. Special brigades will technically inspect more than a thousand units of weapons, armored vehicles, automobiles and special equipment.

The base new commander

• Reportedly, in October 2020, the Commander of the 4th military base of the Russian Federation in the Tskhinvali region, Aleksandr Kravtsov, was replaced by Roman Viazovsky. In various years Viazovsky was the Chief of Staff of the 136th separate motorized infantry, Commander of the operative unit of the motorized infantry brigade of the Southern Military District, Commander of the 19th separate motorized infantry brigade.

COVID-19 and the Occupied Regions of Georgia

According to the latest data, more than 4100 cases of COVID-19 virus infection were reported in the de facto republic of Abkhazia. In the Tskhinvali region, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases totals 917. Due to the aggravated epidemiological situation and scarce medical resources, the de facto governments of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region have appealed to the Russian Ministry of Defense for assistance. The positive response was not delayed and the Ministry of Defense provided various types of assistance to the mentioned regions.

Abkhazia

• At the request of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia a multidisciplinary mobile hospital was opened in Sokhumi, Abkhazia, with the support of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The hospital is equipped with all relevant medical equipment. In total, it accommodates 100 patients. The hospital consists of several departments and a laboratory for PCR tests. In total, 113 medical specialists will treat the patients infected with severe coronavirus.
• On October 21, an RCB protection unit arrived in the de facto republic of Abkhazia to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Military servicemen disinfected the social infrastructure in Sukhumi.

The Tskhinvali region

• At the instruction of the de facto president of the Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto Ministry of Defense sent a letter to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Given the aggravated epidemiological situation de facto republic appealed for assistance from Russia and talked about the need to open a multidisciplinary mobile hospital in the Tskhinvali region.
• On October 27, a field hospital was deployed at the Tskhovrebov Stadium in Tskhinvali. The hospital with150 military medics will serve 150 patients infected with the coronavirus. The mobile hospital, which is equipped with all the necessary medical equipment, has a PCR laboratory.
• RCB specialists of the Russian Armed Forces arrived in the Tskhinvali region to carry out disinfection of Tskhinvali.

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.