28.09.2009
Source:
Large amphibious ships of Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet are participating in the final stage of Zapad-2009 strategic exercise, said high-ranking representative of the Ministry of Defense to RIA Novosti on Monday.
"Eight large amphibious ships will provide seaborne assault on unequipped seashore near
Khmelevka Range (Baltiysk)", said the interviewee.
Among observers will be Anatoly Serdiukov, Russian Minister of Defense, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Navy Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, Baltic Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Alexander Kletskov, Black Sea Fleet Commander and Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, Pacific Fleet Commander.
According to Ministry of Defense, amphibious ships will provide Marine assault of three fleets. "Baltic Fleet naval aviation and fire support ships will support amphibious operation", said the agency's interlocutor.
He underlined that the seaborne assault is to be the part of Baltic Fleet coast defense actions.
"The units of Kaliningrad Special Command will act as the imaginary enemy", he said.
During training battle it is planned to conduct missile and artillery firings against coastal and sea targets.
The fundamental of the
Zapad-2009 exercise's scenario is one of the possible variants of initiating conflict and modern views on its prevention and defensive warfare. Distinguishing feature of the exercise's plan is series of independent defensive drills conducted under the name of
Zapad-2009 and not integrated by joint operational command.
Total strength of troops participating the exercise conducted on Sept 8-29 makes about 12 600 men including 6 500 men from Belarusian Armed Forces and other military formations, around 6 000 men from Russian Armed Forces and about 30 men from Kazakhstan's Army.
In accordance with the Belarusian Armed Forces training plan, about 1 800 obligated reservists were recalled to participate in the event.
Combat and special vehicles are involved as well.
The main site of the exercise is
Obuz-Lesnovsky Range located in Brest region of Belarus where the main events of practical field activities will be worked out on Sept 29.
