NOVOROSSIISK, July 14 (RIA Novosti) - Last August's war with Georgia over South Ossetia showed that Russia needs to hold more frequent military drills, President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.
Speaking at a conference on the Caucasus-2009 military exercises that took place June 29-July 6 in south Russia, Medvedev said: "For us the main lesson from those events is the need to hold full-fledged, permanent and highly effective exercises for all arms and branches of Russia's armed forces."
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia in August 2008 following a five-day war with Georgia, which launched an offensive on Tskhinval in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Most residents of both Abkhazia and South Ossetia have held Russian citizenship for several years.
Medvedev also said he hoped that Georgia would not forget. "I hope the lesson will for a long time remain in the memory of those who try to rebuild the existing order, to resolve their personal problems through military force," he said.
The Caucasus-2009 exercises comprised a series of operational drills with North Caucasus District troops, including South Ossetian and Abkhaz brigades, as well as units from the Black Sea Fleet, the Caspian Flotilla, the Air Force and Airborne Troops.
The Defense Ministry earlier reported that a total of 8,500 troops, about 200 tanks, 450 armored vehicles, and up to 250 artillery pieces would take part in the exercises that were led by Army Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
Medvedev also said Tuesday he was satisfied with the results of the exercises, and added that a new make up of Russia's armed forces, comprising modern combat-ready units capable of dealing with present-day threats would be established by December 1.
