In Kyrgyzstan, at the high-altitude training ground "Edelweiss", the exercises of the troops of the Collective Forces of the Rapid Deployment of the Central Asian Region of the CSTO (KSBR CAR) "Rubezh-2021" are being held.

This is stated in the message of the joint press center of the exercise.

On Thursday, September 9, the active phase of the maneuvers is planned, during which the main tasks will be worked out.

The leadership of "Rubezh-2021" is carried out by the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic, Colonel Artur Temirov.

In total, more than a thousand servicemen from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and 150 pieces of equipment, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, special vehicles "Tiger", flamethrower systems, artillery howitzers D-30, rocket launchers fire (MLRS) BM-21 "Grad", helicopters and aircraft of operational-tactical aviation.

About 300 servicemen and more than 60 pieces of equipment were sent from Russia to the exercises.

As the press service of the Central Military District (CVD) reported earlier, servicemen of a mountain motorized rifle brigade from Tuva are performing tasks at the Edelweiss training ground.

The key goal of the exercises is to work out ways to eliminate illegal armed formations (IAFs) that have invaded the territory of a CSTO member state.

In the course of the maneuvers, it is planned to increase the coherence of the CRDIS units in the CAR in performing tasks in the course of a joint operation.

"The main objectives of the exercises are to improve the practical skills of officials of the command and control bodies of the Troops (Collective Forces) of the CSTO in the organization of hostilities and control of subordinate troops (forces), as well as to increase the coherence of the CRISC units in the implementation of tasks during a joint operation," the message says. on the CSTO website.

The Russian military police are responsible for the protection and patrolling of the Rubezh-2021 exercise area.

They organized service at a high-mountain range a few days before the start of the maneuvers.

The location of the maneuvers is at an elevation of 2000 m above sea level, near the Issyk-Kul lake.

The infrastructure and terrain where the Edelweiss test site is located allow performing tasks of various complexity in high altitude conditions.

In the Soviet period, the site was used for mountain training of the military, and now it is used by the CSTO troops to practice tasks to repel attacks by militants on populated areas.

"Unfavorable environment"

Speaking at the opening ceremony, which took place on September 7, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Karasartov said that "Rubezh-2021" is of great importance in the context of the growing conflict potential in the Middle East and other regions of the world.

"Thanks to such exercises, the personnel of the armed forces of our countries are gaining practical experience in conducting counter-terrorism operations, while improving their field training," said Karasartov.

  • Formation of participants in the exercises "Rubezh-2021"

  • © RT / Alexey Zakvasin

In turn, at the opening ceremony, Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, noted that the military-political situation in the CSTO area of ​​responsibility "remains complex," especially due to the Taliban * movement coming to power in Afghanistan.

“The most unfavorable situation remains in the Central Asian region, which is developing against the background of the Taliban seizure of power in Afghanistan, which borders the Republic of Tajikistan.

The region also maintains a high level of activity of international terrorism and religious extremism, ”Sidorov stressed.

The exercises are aimed at repelling the attack of illegal armed groups.

According to the legend of "Rubezh-2021", the militants invaded the territory of a country - a member of the CSTO.

In response, troops from the Rapid Deployment Forces were transferred, headquarters and command posts, resources for logistical and technical support were formed.

After collecting intelligence information about the conditional enemy, the command of the CSTO grouping approved the coordinates for the application of artillery and air strikes and determined the methods of conducting combat operations.

During Rubezh-2021, intensive reconnaissance operations are planned, including with the use of UAVs, the landing of tactical assault forces, maneuvering by forces of the grouping on the ground and live firing from ground-based weapons.

According to the scenario of the exercise from the air, the ground grouping of the CAR CRSB is covered by the two-seat multipurpose heavy fighters Su-30SM of the Kazakh Air Force, as well as the wing of the Russian Kant airbase located near Bishkek, consisting of Su-25SM attack aircraft and modernized Mi-8MTV5-1 helicopters.

According to experts interviewed by RT, the forces and means of the Russian airbase (deployed since 2003) play an important role in ensuring the security of Kyrgyzstan.

Structurally, "Kant" is part of the 14th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense of Russia, being at the same time an aviation component of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces.

“The compound is armed with Su-25SM attack aircraft and modernized Mi-8MTV5-1 helicopters.

In addition, the Kant military base includes a small and medium-range unmanned aircraft unit equipped with modern multi-functional Orlan-10 UAV systems, a military police and military traffic police unit, ”the website of the RF Ministry of Defense says.

Recently, the military personnel of the airbase have been paying much attention to repelling attacks from reconnaissance and strike UAVs.

For defense against drones, the Silok-02 electronic warfare (EW) complex and the 12.7-mm Cliff machine guns installed on the Ural-43206 all-terrain vehicles are used.

"Challenges and Threats"

In his speech, Anatoly Sidorov said that this year the CBDN of the CAR will be 20 years old.

During this time, the troops conducted ten joint exercises, six operational training sessions with the command.

The head of the CSTO Joint Staff stressed that the international formation had moved "to a qualitatively new level of training."

“All these years, their (Collective Rapid Deployment Forces. -

RT

) formation and progressive development went on ... It can be stated with all confidence that the CRISC of the Central African Republic has moved to a qualitatively new level of training, ready to withstand modern challenges and threats,” Sidorov said.

  • Launch from the BM-21 multiple launch rocket system during the "Rubezh-2021" exercise

  • © RT / Alexey Zakvasin

As noted in the materials of the CSTO, the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region are designed to ensure the military security of the CSTO member states, "including to participate in repelling external military aggression and conducting joint counterterrorist operations."

The total number of CBDN CAR is about 5 thousand people.

This formation includes servicemen from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

They are equipped with highly mobile military equipment, as well as interfaced weapons and communications systems.

In an interview with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev noted that Rubezh-2021, along with other exercises in Central Asia within the framework of the CSTO, make it possible to improve interaction between the military personnel of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

“This is important both for maintaining current relations and for debugging interaction in organizing joint maneuvers.

If we talk about "Edelweiss", then this test site allows you to work out tasks in natural and climatic conditions that are not too familiar for our troops, "explained Kornev.

The expert also considers the “Rubezh-2021” taking place in Kyrgyzstan as a demonstration of political unity “in the event of a possible threat or aggression” from the territory of Afghanistan.

“Today, more than ever, it is necessary to be prepared for the fact that the Afghan conflict may go beyond the borders of the country.

It is quite logical to conduct exercises now on a terrain where, hypothetically, we will have to meet the enemy, ”says Kornev.

In a commentary on RT, a member of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences, Andrei Koshkin, recalled that although Kyrgyzstan does not have a common border with Afghanistan, it is geographically close to the "risk zone".

"The joint actions of the armed forces of the CSTO members have significant military and political significance, and not only for the Central Asian region, due to the forced withdrawal of American troops and the seizure of power by the Taliban," Koshkin emphasized.

According to the expert, all CSTO member states are concerned about how the situation in Afghanistan will develop - whether an "open attack" or infiltration of militants along mountain paths can occur.

All these threats, according to Koshkin, are spelled out in the scenario of "Frontier-2021".

“In my opinion, the exercises that are now taking place in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan take into account the nature of the threats associated with attempts to infiltrate or attack by militants.

The CSTO troops are working out methods that make it possible to create a reliable barrier to terrorists, including in hard-to-reach areas, "Koshkin summed up.

* "Taliban" - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.