“In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander”: the check of the combat readiness of the Russian troops will last until July 21

In Russia, a sudden check of troops of the Southern and Western military districts, of individual formations of central subordination, of the airborne forces and marine corps, was announced. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, this decision was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, a sudden check is conducted of the troops of the Southern and Western military districts, individual formations of central subordination, the Airborne Troops and the Marine Corps of the Northern and Pacific Fleets,” the head of the defense department said in a statement.

The minister said that the verification of the troops is carried out to assess the ability of the RF Armed Forces to ensure security in the south-west of the country, where the threat of a terrorist nature remains, and also to prepare for the Caucasus 2020 exercises.

During the audit, it is planned to conduct more than 50 tactical-level exercises. The process involves 35 polygons and training fields, as well as 17 marine polygons in the waters of the Black and Caspian Seas.

In total, 149 755 people, 26 820 units of weapons and military equipment, 414 aircraft, 106 ships and support vessels should take part in the verification.

• Shoigu on a sudden test of the combat readiness of the Russian army

“Within the framework of exercises and control exercises, provide for the implementation of combat training and coordination programs. Take into account the results of the training activities in determining the assessment of the state of the level of training of associations, formations, military units when they are admitted to the Caucasus-2020 strategic exercise, ”said Shoigu.

The Minister ordered to ensure compliance with all safety requirements at all stages of the audit, as well as to exclude cases of damage to state property. In addition, he urged not to adversely affect the natural environment.

Shoigu also indicated that in order to fulfill the assigned tasks, the General Staff was instructed to form working groups to inspect the military command and control agencies, troops and forces.

The leadership in the preparation of associations, formations and military units for the practical implementation of combat training missions has been entrusted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Commander of the Airborne Forces and the heads of the central bodies of military command.

“A sudden check with the control measures will end on July 21, 2020,” the Ministry of Defense noted.

Recall that the Caucasus-2020 exercises are scheduled for September 2020. During their announcement in December 2019, Shoigu called the upcoming exercises “the most important combat training activity of the Russian Armed Forces.”

Subsequently, some details of the maneuvers were given by the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Yunus-Bek Evkurov. He called the "Caucasus 2020" the main event of combat training in 2020 and added that, in preparation for it, "the combat training tasks of the involved troops and forces will be sequentially complicated."

As Yevkurov explained, in the framework of preparation for the exercises, a complex of special exercises in the troops is planned. “The culmination of strategic exercises will be the practical actions of the troops in September,” the deputy defense minister of Russia added.

Verification of troops in 2020

Earlier this year, an armed forces readiness test for localizing emergencies related to the spread of viral infections took place. A set of relevant measures took place at training grounds in the Western and Central military districts.

Vladimir Putin instructed to conduct such an audit. In accordance with the decision of the Commander-in-Chief, the audit affected the military command and control bodies, formations, military units of the Western and Central Military Districts, the Russian Air Forces, the Strategic Rocket Forces, RKhBZ troops, engineering troops and individual medical support organizations.

The defense department said that the purpose of the training was to work out a complex of “quarantine and medical measures, as well as disinfection of the area and objects.” The exercises were attended by units of the aerospace forces, strategic missile forces, radiation, chemical and biological defense forces, engineering troops and medical support organizations.

During the inspection, the military personnel worked out medical and evacuation tasks, sanitary and anti-epidemic measures, as well as measures to organize accommodation and meals in the field.

In addition, during the audit, an analysis was carried out of the transport capabilities of the military department to transport the necessary forces and equipment to remote areas "to provide assistance to patients and to implement a set of quarantine and medical measures."