BSF successfully trained landing operation in Abkhazia

04.03.2010
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has successfully trained landing operation in Abkhazia on Feb 27, informed Wednesday RIA Novosti citing the source in Naval Base Novorossiysk HQ (NBN).

According to BSF Informational Support Group, BSF task unit sailed off Sevastopol and Novorossiysk naval bases on Feb 27 to conduct tactical exercise headed by Rear Admiral Anatoly Lipinsky, NBN Commander.

"BSF task unit consisting of ten ships has successfully practiced landing operation on unequipped Abkhazian coast in accordance with combat training plan 2010", said the interviewee.

He underlined that conducting of the exercise had been previously approved by Abkhazian authorities.

"Coastal units of Abkhazian armed forces actively cooperated with Black Sea Fleet during the exercise", said the source.

He pointed out that the exercise has not gone unnoticed by NATO.

"Guided missile frigate USS John L. Hall was deployed in same part of the Black Sea where the exercise was held", said the interviewee.

Officially, the US frigate was conducting an exercise with Georgian Coast Guard ships (boats).

"However, apparent purpose of American warship in the Black Sea was not creation of US-Georgian naval interaction but surveillance over BSF exercise", said the source.

Source: Newsgeorgia, photo: landing of BTR-80 with BSF marines from large landing ship Yamal (flot.sevastopol.info, A. Brichevsky)