Over 8,000 Russian army artillery personnel began exercises in Crimea, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia as well as other areas on Thursday, the Southern Military District's press service announced.
"The Southern Military District has begun field exercises for rocket forces and artillery. On 19 training grounds located in the Southern, North Caucasian and Crimean Federal Districts, as well as Russian military bases in Armenia, South Ossetia an Abkhazia, artillery belonging to motorized infantry brigades, formations and military bases of coastal troops will perfect their skills and their units' military coordination."
In addition, commanders of rocket forces in the Central Military District began a five-day training course in Russia's Sverdlovsk region on Thursday. Commanders will be trained on the use of Iskander and Tochka systems, among others.
