DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 21, 2012 Friday
CAUCASUS-2012 IN SIGHTS OF PUTIN
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 18, 2012, p. 5
by Vladimir Mukhin
ALLIES OF RUSSIA WILL JOIN PROVISION OF SECURITY OF THE OLYMPICS OF
2014, EXERCISES OF THE CSTO INTERACTION-2012 ARE UNDERWAY IN ARMENIA;
Strategic staff command exercises Caucasus-2012 began in the southwest
of Russia. Caucasus-2012 for which the Russian army and its allies
have prepared themselves for almost the entire current year are not
the only Russian exercises. Military exercises Interaction-2012 with
participation of armed forces of the member states of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) are organized in Armenia
simultaneously. The first international operational tactical exercises
of the rapid-response forces of the anti-drug agencies and interior
ministries of the CSTO member states Thunder-2012 took place in Moscow
Region.
Strategic staff command exercises Caucasus-2012 began in the southwest
of Russia. Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army Vladimir
Putin Enhanced Coverage LinkingVladimir Putin -Search
using:Biographies Plus NewsNews, Most Recent 60 Daysplanned to visit
one of the episodes of the exercises at Raevsky training range in
Krasnodar Territory. There are several hot spots on the southern
borders. Along with this, Olympics will take place on the Black Sea
coast two years later. Working out of provision of security of the
Olympics is among the other tasks in the plan of Caucasus-2012.
Caucasus-2012 for which the Russian army and its allies have prepared
themselves for almost the entire current year are not the only Russian
exercises. Military exercises Interaction-2012 with participation of
armed forces of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) are organized in Armenia simultaneously. The first
international operational tactical exercises of the rapid-response
forces of the anti-drug agencies and interior ministries of the CSTO
member states Thunder-2012 took place in Moscow Region.
Although these exercises are formally not connected with each other,
analysis of actions of the troops and special services allows drawing
of conclusion that the exercises are conducted in the framework of the
unified plan. Second, provisions are made for big-scale relocation of
troops both in the framework of the strategic staff command exercises
and exercises of the CSTO. The fifth separate mechanized infantry
brigade was transferred to Russian training range Ashuluk (Astrakhan
Region) from Moscow Region. Servicemen of special units of the
anti-drug agencies and services of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan arrived
to Thunder exercises besides the Russian forces. A battalion of the
98th guards airborne division from Ivanovo was moved to exercises of
the collective rapid-response forces (CRRF) of the CSTO in Armenia.
Second, network-centric methods of combat operations with use of
automated command systems, space reconnaissance and unmanned aerial
vehicles are used in all exercises. The fifth brigade operating at
Ashuluk was nicknamed digital in the troops. Together with the 247th
airborne assault regiment of the seventh mountain division of the
Airborne Forces it will conduct bilateral tactical exercises with use
of the unified system for command of armament and troops of the
tactical level (ESU TZ). Modern methods of combating of drug criminals
were used during Thunder-2012 exercises. Director of the Russian
Federal Service for Control over Drug Trafficking Victor Ivanov says
that the service will adopt special equipment that allows transmission
of information in the online mode to the situation center of the
service through satellite channels, as well as special equipment for
interception of transmission of telecommunication devices that are
used by drug traffickers and photo and video appliances for hidden
observation.
Third, Caucasus-2012 and exercises of the CRRF of the CSTO have their
own secrets. Movement of the airborne battalion to the South Caucasus
leads to questions because the sky above Georgia is closed for flights
of Russian military airplanes. Military airplanes are also not allowed
to pass to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan. We can only
guess how an entire airborne battalion has come to the place of the
exercises.
The General Staff also explains that the 102nd Russian military base
stationed in Armenia does not participate in Caucasus-2012 exercises.
Along with this, this base and a battalion of the 98th guards airborne
division from Ivanovo participate in CSTO exercises Interaction-2012
in Armenia now. Along with this, the Russian staff command exercises
and exercises of the CRRF in the South Caucasus began almost
simultaneously. According to official information of the Defense
Ministry, Caucasus-2012 takes place mostly on the basis of the staff
of the Southern Military District to which the 102nd military base is
subordinated. This means that staff of the Southern Military District
participates in two big exercises simultaneously and their connection
is obvious.
There is also another aspect. Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Colonel General Alexander Postnikov stated that units from the Russian
military bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia were excluded from the
ranks of participants of the exercises. Along with this, speaking
about participation of units and formations of the 58th army in the
staff command exercises its commander Major General Andrei Gurulev
announced recently that an operational group of the fourth military
base stationed in South Ossetia would operate at Kapustin Yar training
range. This means that staffs of the units stationed outside of the
territory of Russia are included into the staff command exercises.
This circumstance became a reason for apprehensions of the authorities
of Georgia and NATO that see aggressive plans behind the exercises.
The West proposed Russia not to start staff command exercises
Caucasus-2012. However, sources in the Defense Ministry report that
use of the servicemen from military bases in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia in the exercises on the territory of Russia is not a threat
for Georgia because the staffs work out only defensive tasks.
On the contrary, Russian military officials have apprehensions that
Tbilisi is preparing provocations against Russia timed for the
beginning of the Olympics in Sochi. Representatives of the Defense
Ministry say that actions of the group of the Navy in the Black Sea
near the coast of Krasnodar Territory will be worked out during
Caucasus-2012 exercises. These actions may be repeated during the
Olympics in real conditions. The ground groups in this region will
work out operations against illegal armed forces.
[translated from Russian]